Haifa's proposed budget for 2008 is arousing the ire of some councilors, who say it smacks of electioneering and provides "less money for infrastructure and more money for cosmetics," reports Yediot Haifa.
By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY
Haifa's proposed budget for 2008 is arousing the ire of some councilors, who say it smacks of electioneering and provides "less money for infrastructure and more money for cosmetics," reports Yediot Haifa. One councilor said the budget proposes to cut an "unacceptable" NIS 150 million from transportation.
According to the report, many councilors were dismayed to find that the budget - put together by the city manager and the city treasurer - contains significant cuts in several departments. Councilor Itzik Regev said the budget was cutting NIS 15 million from the municipal development company Yafeh-Nof, which would "automatically" translate to a cut of NIS 150 million from the transport department.
"There is less money for infrastructure and more money for cosmetics," Regev said. "I will not let the mayor run election economics and beautify city squares instead of taking care of important infrastructure."
And councilor Shomo Gilboa was furious that the budget did not provide funds for a second life-savers' station at the Dado beach, something the council had discussed after several drownings there. "It is unacceptable that the council makes a decision and then the city manager does whatever he wants," Gilboa said.
Deputy mayor Rami Levy, head of the Likud faction in the council, said the budget should provide more funding to help the many failing businesses in the city, as well as providing increased funds for sports.
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