Local governments` budget smallest - Gyumri mayor 

ArmInfo.  Despite the experience of other countries, Armenia allocates the least funds to local governments - only 3-4% of the total budget, especially to the second largest city in the country - Gyumri. This was stated on July 28 by Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan at a press conference organized in  connection with the expiration of 100 days of his tenure.

According to him, such a level of funding is shameful. He noted that  he has not seen a similar situation, when the budget of the capital  is 160 billion drams, and the budget of the second city is only 4.5  billion.  "Nothing like this is observed in other countries. If ten  times more people live in the capital, then the budget should be  proportional - let it be 70 billion drams, but not 160," Ghukasyan  was indignant.

In this vein, the mayor cited data on the funding of other cities in  the republic. For example, according to the data he presented,  Artashat's budget is 6 billion drams. He also drew attention to the  fact that in Artashat's case, unlike Gyumri, rural areas are taken  into account, and gave assurances that this is an incorrect approach.  He then gave other examples: Masis receives 4.2 billion, Metsamor - 4  billion, Ashtarak - 3.739 billion, Martuni - 4.182 billion, Vanadzor  - 3.118 billion and Akhuryan - 2.664 billion drams. Ghukasyan also  assured that for 37 years the most vulnerable class of the population  has been living in Gyumri. In this regard, he expressed bewilderment  at such a state approach, especially after the devastating earthquake  in Gyumri on December 7, 1988.

In this vein, the mayor drew attention to the fact that the deputies  from the ruling Civil Contract party were discussing insignificant  topics, such as the celebration of Vardavar or musical fountains.

Earlier, the ruling party, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan,  criticized the Gyumri authorities for the fact that the song "The  Thieves' Dol" was played from the city's singing fountain the day  before.

The prime minister wrote on his Facebook page in this regard "A thief  should be in prison, not fooling around with fountains." Ghukasyan  called on the authorities to focus on real problems and do serious  work instead of discussing issues of this level. According to him,  people are different, and some people like this song too.

"It should be noted that the Prime Minister's budget provides 25  billion drams for his expenses, and the amount allocated for 930  communities of the state is less than this amount. This issue should  be raised in the National Assembly of Armenia, instead of the issue  of deputies holding on to "their seats," " Ghukasyan added, assuring  that he had encountered a similar approach under the previous  authorities.

Recall that on March 30 of this year, early elections to the Council  of Elders of Gyumri were held. The ruling Civil Contract party  received the largest number of votes (35.47% of the votes), but this  percentage was not enough for the ruling party's candidate Sarik  Minasyan to head the city. The united opposition decided to nominate  a single candidate in the person of the Communist Party  representative Vardan Ghukasyan, who received 18.41%.