At today's session (13 December), councillors adopted budget of the city of Ełk for 2024, submitted by Mayor Tomasz Andrukiewicz. The budget was based on the needs of residents, councillors' requests, provisions of the city's development strategy, as well as long-term plans and long-term Programs. Earlier, the draft budget received a positive opinion from the Regional Chamber of Auditors.

"... The budget is the financial basis for next year and will be of particular importance for the development of the city and for ensuring a better quality of life of the inhabitants of Ełk... Preparing a city budget is a demanding task because we had to take into account many factors, m.in growing needs and expectations of Elks, investments in infrastructure, education, protection Environment... We had to take into account factors such as inflation, growth labour costs, lack of development subsidy for local governments (at the moment), electricity prices ..." – said the Mayor of Ełk at today's session of the Council Cities of Ełk

In favour of the adoption of the 2024 budget 19 councillors voted, 1 councillor abstained and 3 councillors were Absent.

After the budget was passed, the President thanked all Councillors for adopting the budget and the City Treasurer, Deputy President, Secretary and all associates for their work on preparation of the 2024 budget. He also pledged to cooperate in the implementation of next year's budget and openness to change.

In the budget of the city of Ełk for 2024, revenues are planned in the amount of PLN 363 million, and expenditures at the level of PLN 442.8 million, including: current expenditure of PLN 341.9 million and property and capital expenditure of PLN 100.9 million. Deficit budget in the amount of PLN 79.8 million will be covered by the savings and free funds from previous years (PLN 47.7 million) and from bond issues.

Primary sources of income:

• Shares local government in PIT and CIT – PLN 63.5 million

• Subsidies (general and educational) – PLN 103.6 million

• Grants – PLN 38.2 million

• Taxes and local fees – PLN 63.2 million

• sale real estate – PLN 4.5 million

Next year's budget provides for the maintenance of core tasks at the current level and leaving the tax rates in place unchanged. It includes the amount of PLN 1 million for the participatory budget.

The most important investments planned for 2024 This is m.in:

• Rebuilding and expansion of the Water Park in Ełk,

• construction the so-called small ring road - Norwida Street on the section from Kościuszki Street to the exit roundabout to the tunnel under the tracks near the cemetery,

• Rebuilding Sikorskiego Street on the section from Wojska Polskiego Street to the railway tracks,

• purchase 5 electric buses with infrastructure,

• Expansion network of bicycle paths in the city of Ełk,

• continuation construction of a municipal building at Kolejowa Street with 36 apartments,

• modernization road infrastructure within the Suwałki Special Economic Zone, Ełk Subzone - Krzemowa, Towarowa and Ciepła Streets

• construction Pileckiego Street and Fieldorfa Nila Street on the Konieczki estate,

• renovation roof in the building of Primary School No. 2

• Rebuilding 3 Maja Street and Małeckich Street in the very center,

• modernization street lighting for m.in. energy-saving LEDs,

• Hardening roads with drainage of the area at 6-8 Toruńska Street and at the garages at ul. Piłsudskiego 13,

• Fitting courtyard at building no. 57 of the Polish Army,

• Rebuilding prelate Marian Szczęsny Street on the Jeziorna estate,

• inception construction of a bicycle path along the Ełk River

• construction playground at SP9.

The 2024 budget includes expenditure on preparation of technical documentation/projects concerning m.in the following:

• Construction Kolejowa Street on the section from Grajewska Street to Wczasowa Street along with the execution of bicycle path,

• Rebuilding Dąbrowskiego Street on the section from Armii Krajowej Street to the viaduct,

• Rebuilding Woj. from Mickiewicza Street to 11 Listopada Street,

• Rebuilding the old beach at Parkowa Street in Ełk,

• Construction sports hall and land development at SP1,

• Upgrading playground in the Municipal Kindergarten "Light",

• reclamation Ełk Lake, water protection - part I,

• Renovation and reinforcement of the bridge structure at Zamkowa Street,

• Construction dog park - Grajewska / Kilińskiego,

• Construction a bicycle path along the Ełk River from Norwida Street to Suwalska Street,

• Construction bridge located at Stary Rynek Street,

• Rebuilding bridge located at the mouth of the Elk River.