Before New Year More Than Half Million Lari Was Allocated for Bonuses in Five Districts of Kakheti Region

Mikheil Mamalashvili, Kakheti

566 740 lari was spent on the bonuses of public servants of municipal boards and district administration in all five municipalities of Kakheti region. According to the municipal boards, employees of Gurjaani district self-governmental bodies received the most bonuses – 180 000 lari. 134 330 lari was spent in Sagarejo district, 89 410 lari in Dedoplistskaro, 63 000 lari in Telavi, more than 100 000 lari in Akhmeta district.

On December 24, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili spread special statement about the expenditure of state funds by state agencies before the New Year. He called on the state agencies not to allocate funds for corporative events. "Since we pay special attention to rational spending of budgetary funds I urge to the state agencies, legal entities of public law and non-entrepreneurial legal entities not to use budgetary funds for New Year's corporate events. Georgian government is fully aware of legal and state commitments of public servants and considers that the mentioned decision will be another step forward on our country's path to democracy.”

Despite the statement, municipal boards of Kakheti region passed resolution on issuing bonuses on their employees.

On December 24, Gurjaani municipal board passed resolution to issue 180 000 lari bonuses on the employees of the district administration and board. Chairman of the municipal board Avtandil Zardiashvili said 286 employees of the local self-governmental bodies will receive bonuses. 

“Based on the resolution, every employee of the municipal board and district administration will receive bonuses equal to their monthly salaries. The decision was made because of the work implemented throughout the year. We have successfully implemented social and infrastructural projects. The funds allocated for bonuses remained in the 2013 budget,” Avtandil Zardiashvili said. 

Gurjaani district administration gave bonuses to the employees for St. George’s Day and for Easter Holiday too. On November 23, St. George’s Day, about 300 employees received bonuses equal to half of their salaries  that amounted to total 75 000 lari. As for Easter Holiday, every employee of the district administration received bonuses equal to their monthly salaries that made total 186 000 lari.

In 2013, 441 000 lari was spent on the bonuses of the employees of the Gurjaani district self-governmental bodies throughout 2013.

Sagarejo district administration ranked second place with the amount of bonuses – 134 330 lari was spent before New Year. Head of office at the municipal board Ilia Tsiproshvili said 243 employees of local self-governmental bodies and 521 employees of nine non-profit legal entities will receive bonuses equal to their half salaries.

89 410 lari will be spent on the bonuses of Dedoplistskaro district administration and municipal board. 136 public servants will receive bonuses equal to their monthly salaries.

Chairman of Dedoplistskaro municipal board Levan Natroshvili said the PM’s statement was about corporative events. Instead organizing New Year masquerades they spent budget funds for the encouragement of the public servants. “District administration petitioned us to give bonuses to employees before New Year. The board discussed the issue and supported it. We know PM’s statement but it was about the expenditure of budget funds for corporative events. However, we are not organizing any masquerades and will try to encourage our employees,” Levan Natroshvili said.

Before New Year, 197 employees of Telavi district self-governmental bodies received bonuses of 63 000 lari. Head of financial-budget service at the Telavi district administration Mikheil Shashiashvili said since 2007 public servants receive bonuses equal to their monthly salaries twice per year: “Since 2007, when district budgets are agreed with the Ministry of Finance, salaries for 14 months are envisaged in it. 13th salary is spent on vacations and one bonus is paid either for the Easter Holiday or for New Year Holiday. This year, 63 000 lari was allocated for bonuses before New Year and 197 employees will receive it.”

On December 20, Akhmeta municipal board passed resolution according to which employees of the local self-governments received bonuses equal to their salaries before New Year. Akhmeta district governor Beka Baidauri said employees of the district administration also received bonuses. In total, more than 100 000 lari was spent on bonuses in the district.