Nicosia, Cyprus. The newly created metropolitan municipality of Nicosia has reduced its deficit by 80 per cent and resolved more than three-quarters of citizen requests during its first two years since local government reform came into force, Mayor Charalambos Prountzos said on Thursday. He said the municipality had managed the transition following the merger of several municipal authorities while addressing financial and operational challenges.
Two-year review presented
Prountzos presented a review of the municipality’s first two years in office at an event attended by Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou, deputy mayors, councillors and representatives of local organisations.
According to the municipality, 659 decisions have been taken since the reform took effect, with officials describing the process as based on collective decision-making and transparency.
Staff and transition challenges
Municipal director-general Myria Pilakouta said the success of the reform was largely due to municipal employees who embraced the changes and worked to ensure their implementation.
Prountzos said the newly formed authority had inherited financial obligations, ageing infrastructure and equipment shortages, but had moved beyond the initial merger phase to focus on improving residents’ daily lives and implementing major projects.
Financial and public service changes
Prountzos said the deficit had been reduced by 80 per cent through tighter control of revenues and expenditure and efforts to combat tax evasion.
The municipality said public services had been consolidated through the introduction of five service centres, a unified call centre and expanded digital services. Of the 22,594 requests submitted over the past two years across 84 categories, 17,457 have been completed, representing a completion rate of more than 77 per cent, while the rest are still being processed.
Environment and energy measures
The municipality reported significant activity in environmental management, including more than 22,000 new tree plantings and the maintenance of 1,052 green spaces.
It said waste collection services had improved by 50 per cent, while 177 parks and 106 playgrounds are now maintained, with 15 playgrounds either newly created or upgraded.
Nicosia has also launched what it described as Cyprus’ first citizens’ energy community, known as “Lefkothea”, as part of efforts to promote sustainable development and the green transition.