The Finance Ministry and the Jerusalem Municipality reached an agreement on the budget for 2019: Government support for the municipality will amount to NIS 950 million

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon reached an agreement on the city’s budget for 2019. The total budget will be NIS 950 million, based on a predefined mix of goals: allocation for revenue-generating projects, budget for Jerusalem development and improvement of services for residents.

Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon reached an agreement on a total budget for the city of 2019 in the amount of NIS 950 million according to the following division: NIS 765 million capital budget, NIS 67 million development grant to Jerusalem plus NIS 40 million to improve the level of services in the city and 78 million, which will be used for self-generating projects for the Jerusalem Municipality when the municipality and the Ministry of Finance will jointly determine the projects to be implemented in the aforesaid amounts.

A team will be established in which the Ministry of Finance and the Jerusalem Municipality will participate in the allocation of these amounts.

It was also agreed between the parties that during the year the parties will discuss additional steps that will increase the authority’s independent revenues in a manner that will increase the level of services in the city.

The total budget will be NIS 950 million, representing a 20 percent increase over the budget transferred to the Jerusalem Municipality in 2018. These sums are added to a plan approved half a year ago for the development of the eastern capital in the amount of NIS 2.1 billion.

Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon: “I am proud that the Ministry of Finance will give the highest amount ever to the city of Jerusalem this year, in direct continuation of the trend of recent years. I am certain that in the coming years we will continue to work together with Mayor Moshe Leon to strengthen Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, and to continue to grow it for future generations.”

Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Leon: “The agreement promises that the Jerusalem Municipality will begin the year 2019 with the financial footprint of the capital, with the implicit result being the expansion of the services provided to the residents of Jerusalem. Thanks to Minister Kahlon for the pleasant conduct and the manner in which the discussions were conducted and the decision-making process, the residents of Jerusalem can return to breathe in relief, there are those who take care of them.”

Outgoing Mayor Nir Barkat said: “I congratulate Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, the Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Leon, and the residents of the city for agreeing on the new budget for 2019. This year, too, Jerusalem will receive a budget increase that will enable the continued growth of our eternal capital.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)