We Stand Ready to Engage in Approval of Tbilisi Budget to Defend Interests of Constituents
Over the past few weeks, the public has been observing a dispute between the Office of Tbilisi Mayor and Tbilisi Sakrebulo on the approval of the city budget. A meeting with NGOs over this issue was held in the City Council on January 31, in which the Sakrebulo Chairperson tried to explain the rationale behind the rejection of the budget.
Stalling of the process is detrimental to the work of the City Hall as well as the interests of the citizenry. We, therefore, express our readiness to engage, within our capacity, in negotiations between the Office of Tbilisi Mayor and Sakrebulo on the approval of the city budget. We believe that the sides should act in the best interests of constituents and adopt the city budget within the shortest possible time. Further protraction of the budget approval could significantly deter the delivery of public services to the population.
Transparency International Georgia and International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy express our willingness to meet the representatives of both the office of Tbilisi Mayor and Tbilisi Sakrebulo to hear their specific arguments, and assist them, within our capacity, in reaching a consensus. Our only drive in so doing is to give the parties specific professional advice and help them reconcile their positions to bring about the timely approval of the city budget meeting public interests.