Ο Budget of 2022 was approved unanimously from the City Council On Tuesday, January 4, 2022, following its Decision No. 213/2021, Economic Committee and the favorable opinion of the Observatory for the Financial Autonomy of Local Government Units, ref. no. 2401/12/30/2021, in accordance with Article 4 of Law 4111/2013. This was preceded by the adoption of the 2022 Technical Program a few days ago, following cooperation and consultation among the political groups.

The 2022 Budget and Financial Plan are directly affected by the pandemic since our municipality—like all municipalities in the country — is facing a serious problem with revenue collection and liquidity due to reduced revenue in key areas such as fees for public spaces, temporary residents, etc.

However, despite the pandemic, the tendering of major infrastructure projects, the completion of those already under contract, and the planning of even more projects continued uninterrupted throughout 2021. Our municipality consistently ranks among the top island municipalities (including those with much larger areas and staff) in terms of the tendering of its projects.

The 2022 Budget includes:

A 10% reduction in municipal sanitation and street lighting fees—the first such reduction in at least 15 years—along with the introduction of a social rate for vulnerable social groups.
Mandatory operating expenses, such as payroll, social security contributions, maintenance costs for the municipality’s networks, infrastructure, and buildings, as well as costs for electric lighting, fuel, etc. It should be noted that electricity costs have risen significantly for the year 2022 due to steep price increases worldwide. Payroll expenses (through the CAP) have also increased, as the Municipality has had new permanent staff since 2021, and the hiring of two additional employees (engineers) has been approved, whose salaries must be included in the expenses. Significant amounts are earmarked for mandatory expenses such as accounting services, certified public accountants, the preparation of the Medium-Term Financial Plan (OPD), OTS’s financial and accounting management programs, etc.
Projects, supplies, and services that were contracted or put out to bid in 2021 but will be completed in 2022 as ongoing projects, funded by various sources (including, but not limited to):

Playground Upgrades (FILODIMOS & OWN FUNDS FROM NON-ELIGIBLE EXPENSES)
District Maintenance (OWN RESOURCES)
Studies for the Completion and Renovation of the Potamos Theater (OWN FUNDS)
3 news items Seatracks (NSRF)
Road Construction Project to Vergomenos, Livadi Postal Code (NSRF)
Replacement and Modification of Water Supply Networks (Public Works Program)
Veterinary Clinic Maintenance (OWN FUNDS)
New Digital Water Meters (A. TRITSIS)
Connection of New Water Supply Wells (FILODIMOS)
New Water Supply Network in Agia Pelagia (REGION)
Repair of Damage to Schools Caused by the November 2019 Earthquake (Public Investment Program)
Procurement of a Self-Contained Fire Truck (FILODIMOS)
Procurement of a Garbage Truck (FILODIMOS)
Antikythera Mechanism Exhibition Hall (LEADER)
Studies on Flood Control Projects (OWN RESOURCES)
Update on Chora Redevelopment Studies (OWN RESOURCES)
Preparation of the SFIO (GREEN FUND)
Update on Chora Redevelopment Studies (OWN RESOURCES)

Projects and development initiatives funded by external sources. It should be noted that Projects funded by the Region under Program Agreements are included in the annual allocation amount as determined by the Region itself, except for those projects for which an implementation contract has already been signed, in which case they are included in the total amount of the contract. These projects are put out to bid through the Multi-Year Commitment procedure in accordance with Presidential Decree 80/2016.
Projects that could not be awarded in 2021, as well as new entries for projects, supplies, and services from own resources of the Municipality:

Landscaping of the Outdoor Areas of the Fratsia Conference Center
Construction of a connecting road Parking River
Renovation of the Mitata Fountain
Construction of a National Resistance Monument in Kapsali
Work to convert the ground floor of the Potamos Municipal Office into a KEP
New streetlighting system along the Potamos Antikythira coastal road
Cleaning and Restoration of Springs and Water Intakes (Gonia)
Supply of Water Filters
New Water Supply Network in Palaiopolis
Replacement of the asbestos pipe network in Pitsinianika
Repair of Civil Protection Water Tanks
Procurement of Vehicles for Technical Services
Improving the Passability of Local Roads
Road Construction: Diakopoulianika–Karavas
Rural Road Construction 2022
Cleaning of Fire Safety Zones 2022
Installation of Road Guardrails
Studies on the Renovation of Common Areas in Kapsali
Renovation of Common Areas in Karvounades
Restoration of the Ammos Square Coastal Road
Renovation of a Community Road in Agia Anna, Chora
Road Improvements to Agia Patrikia
Construction of a retaining wall in Logothetianika
Completion of Maintenance Work at the Chora Municipal Cemetery
Maintenance of the Social Grocery Store Building
Maintenance of the Mylopotamos Irrigation System (majority-minority proposal)
Aesthetic Improvement of the Mylopotamos Springs (majority-minority proposal)
Preparation of a study on connecting the western settlement of Chora to the Kapsali Wastewater Treatment Plant (majority-minority proposal)
Preparation of a study for the redevelopment and creation of the Kato Livadi interchange (majority-minority proposal)
Preparation of a feasibility and sustainability study for municipal public transportation (minority proposal)

Expenditures on cultural activities and tourism promotion—as has been the consistent practice for years—which the municipal government considers particularly important for the municipality’s outreach efforts.
The cost of providing a stipend to rural doctors, which our municipality has been providing for the past two years and has contributed significantly to ensuring full staffing at the hospital and the regional clinics of Kythira and Antikythira.
The €100,000 grant to the legal entity (Cultural Center–Daycare Centers) of the Municipality, which remains double the amount provided prior to 2015, as the Legal Entity continues to have increased needs.
Increasing funding for the Social Grocery Store, as proposed by the minority faction, which could be increased even further through a budget revision.

The funding approved to date by our municipality for projects, studies, and development initiatives totals approximately €34,000,000., an unprecedented amount for our island. Of this amount, 27.3 million comes from the Region of Attica, and the remainder from the Public Investment Program (PIP), FILODIMO, the Deposits and Loans Fund, the CLLD/LEADER program, etc. If we add to this amount the projects funded by the Municipality’s own resources, it is clear that our Municipal Authority is fully vindicated in its economic and development policy, as since 2014 the increase in funding and projects in Kythira and Antikythira has been an indisputable fact, evidenced not only by the funding tables, but also by everyday life itself—the many construction sites and the even greater number of completed projects.