Ignoring the regulations of the Interior Ministry, Tiveria Mayor Ron Kobi in recent weeks has been driving around in a BMW, which is costing the taxpayer NIS 7,500 a month.

According to a report in Tuesday’s Yisrael Hayom newspaper, the ministry regulates the type of vehicle a mayor may use, and this is dependent in part on the size of the city, the number of residents. Despite the fact that Kobi has already received a warning from a senior official in the Ministry of the Interior regarding the vehicle he uses, it appears the warning has fallen on deaf ears.

According to ministry regulations, in a city with under 100,000 residents, and Tiveria is home to 46,000 residents, the mayor may use a vehicle which does not cost over NIS 215,000 or a monthly cost of over NIS 5,000.

The report states the current vehicle being used by the mayor is costing NIS 7,500 a month.

When asked to comment, Kobi explained that his vehicle is being serviced and this is simply a replacement vehicle.

The Interior Ministry explains the ministry has approved a short-term rental of an Opel until the mayor receives a new vehicle through leasing as required by law. Since the election of the mayor until today, there has been no such tender [for a leased vehicle] and the rental has been ongoing for an extended period of time.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)