Ochakiv may face a water supply shortage, according to the deputy mayor.

Ochakov may face water supply issues, warns the vice-mayor

In Ochakov, located in the Mykolaiv region, 90% of the city's budget is spent on taxes – local authorities have raised prices for water supply and drainage to keep the public utility "Ochakovvodokanal" afloat.

This was reported by the vice-mayor of Ochakov, Alexey Vaskov.

The vice-mayor notes that at present, Ochakov has lost its primary sources of income, with 90% of the budget revenue coming from profit tax paid by enterprises, entrepreneurs, and local residents who are officially employed.

- Ochakov is likely the only city in Ukraine that receives 90% of its budget revenue from personal income tax. We do not generate income from tourism. The budget of Ochakov relies on personal income tax from public institutions, namely our teachers and doctors. It also comes from "Ochakov Service," which pays taxes, and from those civilians who still work in the city. Regarding trade, if we look at excise tax, the ATB supermarket has paid more in taxes than all the remaining entrepreneurs in the city combined. But that's just one large store that operates and pays taxes. Overall, there is almost no revenue for the local budget; we do not receive payment for land, as it is an active combat zone. We are left with less than a fifth of what we could have. Before the war, in a pre-war year, we had 101 million in revenue for the local budget, - said Alexey Vaskov.

He emphasized that their utility company "Ochakovvodokanal" is in a difficult situation. He highlighted that the city authorities are negotiating with the Ministry of Finance to secure additional funds from the state budget, but currently, there is no money available.

- The mayor and the head of the finance department visited the Ministry of Finance with the help of our MP Alexander Pasichny to advocate for these figures and provide breakdowns, which we also did at the regional level. As the mayor told us, they listened to us, but it turned out to be insufficient, and we were allocated only 19 million of the necessary amount. Today, we lack even the funds to cover protected expenditures such as salaries and energy supplies, - the vice-mayor explained.

He reported that due to the increase in electricity tariffs and the lack of budget funds to compensate for losses, they are compelled to raise the tariffs for water supply and drainage.

- The tariff that we have "released" today was set last year for 2024. If we analyze the situation, the previous tariff has been in effect since 2018. Water cost 22 hryvnias 58 kopecks, and wastewater cost 25 hryvnias 30 kopecks. This tariff was established on October 1, 2018. At that time, electricity cost 2 hryvnias 50 kopecks. Today, electricity costs 10 hryvnias 19 kopecks. This means the difference has increased fourfold, or even more, which is significant. Consequently, the prices of fuel and lubricants have changed, and salaries have increased as well. Last year, when funds were withdrawn from our budget for taxes... and that constitutes 90% of our budget, we adopted this tariff and applied it to all categories except for the population. Since, according to the regulation, the tariff must be uniform for all. However, to avoid raising the tariff for the population, we subsidized it from the budget. We were able to maintain it at the price level of 2018. Considering recommendations not to increase it, - explained the vice-mayor.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the utility may stop water supply.

- As of today, if we do not provide subsidies or raise the tariff to an economically justified level, the utility will stop and cease to supply water to the frontline community, - said Vaskov.