Salaries To Be Increased for the Employees of Kutaisi City Hall

Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi 

From January 1, 2015, employees of Kutaisi local self-governmental agencies, who will occupy positions as a result of certification competitions in two months, will receive increased salaries- Kutaisi Mayor Shota Murgulia said. A few days ago he made special statement at the special session and said that he will advocate good salaries for good personnel, because they must work hard as instructed by our leadership. 

“Salaries will be increased in accordance to the competition rate and the law. We consider the version according to which, heads of Kutaisi city hall departments and service units will have their salaries increased at GEL 200. They need motivation to work hard.  Salary of the first vice-mayor will also increase. However, his salary will increase at 50 GEL only,”-stated Murgulia. 

As for the Kutaisi mayor's salary, Murgulia said it will not increase and his salary will still be 2750 GEL. From 2015 vice-mayors (first vice-mayor) will receive 2100 GEL and 2050 GEL. 

Bonus issue remains controversial, both in legislative body and outside. 

“It is not necessary for the city council members, mayors, municipal councilors to receive bonuses monthly, as it happens in Kutaisi and in other cities,” Member of the Parliamentary Majority Tina Khidasheli said. Several days ago, nongovernmental organization “Institute for Development of Freedom of Information" conducted analytical survey and verified MP Khidasheli’s statement with figures. According to the organization 1, 8 million Lari was spent on the salaries of Kutaisi City Hall personnel in 2013. 

According to the analysts of the IDFI budget funds were unreasonably wasted on the salaries of the employees of Kutaisi and other municipalities of Imeteri region that should be regulated by the law as soon as possible. 

“Kutaisi local government representatives did not receive bonuses. However, if the issue is reviewed and people will receive salary supplements, there is nothing wrong. It is important, to publicize salaries and bonuses paid to each deputy or any public official and society must have information about it,” majority member in the Kutaisi city council Nato Katamadze said. 

Regardless resistance, according to the decision of the local government Kutaisi government officials will receive bonuses next year too,- Kutaisi vice-mayor Nodar Mikiashvili said: “if people used to receive bonuses three times a year in the past, now they will receive only twice. So, we will save 300 thousand Lari in the city budget. Money will be spent on the solution of more important problems”.