In the first eight months of this year, communities in the Lviv region allocated over UAH 3.1 billion for needs related to russia’s armed aggression. This refers to local budget expenditure excluding earmarked transfers, accounting for 11.2% of all spending.
The level of support differs significantly between communities, as each sets its own budget priorities. The communities in the Lviv region with the highest share of spending on defence and other war-related needs are:
- Sokilnyky community – 32% of expenditure;
- Pidberiztsi – 26.2%;
- Morshyn – 22.7%;
- Slavske – 19.1%;
- Zabolotsi – 18.9%.
Looking not at percentage shares but at the total amount of funds, among all local budgets (excluding the regional budget and the budget of the Lviv City Territorial Community) the largest allocation for defence and related needs was made by the Sokilnyky community – UAH 86 million.
From the regional budget of the Lviv region, over the same period, more than UAH 885 million was allocated for defence needs, which represents 18.4% of all regional treasury expenditure.
At the same time, in a number of communities the share of expenditure on war-driven needs remains low – only 2–3% of all spending. These include:
- Pidkamin community – 2.6%;
- Biskovychi – 2.9%;
- Sokal community – 2.9%;
- Peremyshliany – 3.2%;
- Turka – 3.4%.
In total, in 18 communities of the Lviv region less than 5% of their budget expenditure is directed towards war-related needs. At the same time, in most communities with lower figures this share is nevertheless increasing compared with previous budget periods.
The author of the appeal stresses that community leaders should carefully analyse their budgets, review every line of expenditure and, where possible, increase funding for defence and other areas linked to the war. Residents of the Lviv region are also urged to take an interest in how their taxes are used and to pay attention not only to repairs and construction, but also to what share of funds the community allocates to defence needs.
These are your taxes, and you have the right to know what priorities are being funded with your money.
The publication underlines that every community must make full use of its financial capacity to strengthen defence capability, as this is a shared responsibility of residents and local self-government bodies.