Coronavirus: Larnaca Municipality 2020 revenue takes €5.5m hit

Larnaca Municipality saw 2020 revenue drop by €5.5m because of the coronavirus pandemic, mayor Andreas Vyras told the Cyprus News Agency on Tuesday.

The municipality had budgeted for revenue of €23.8m but saw only €18m flowing into its coffers.

The mayor said he had submitted a revised budget after the spring lockdown, projecting revenue of €20m, but that target was also missed.

Meanwhile, the budget for 2021 has been drawn up based on 2020’s trajectory, with the municipality anticipating revenue of €18.5m, to which it has added €4m from outstanding amounts of the previous year. Expenditure in 2021 is budgeted at €20m.

“Since we do not know when the coronavirus pandemic will end, we cannot say with certainty what the municipality’s revenue will be in 2021. However, the municipality’s plans for projects which have already started and are continuing, or that are being planned, are not stopping but are moving ahead,” he said.

The municipality’s development budget provides for spending of €13.7m, large sums of which will be spent on completing projects which are in the first cycle of European Funds, among them the new municipal market, the social welfare and occupation centre and the partial refurbishment of the Zouhouri mosque complex.

The budget also provides for studies for projects in the second cycle for which planning is continuing, including work on Pattichion park, phase two of the upgrading of streets and pavements with facilities for the disabled in the centre of Larnaca and renovation of the former residence of the police chief in the Droshia area.