700 million allocated to educators in combat areas in Odesa

Odesa adopted amendments to the city budget for 2026 with revenues of over UAH 18 billion. Attention was also paid to support for educators in the combat zone.

The relevant decision was made at a session of the Odesa City Council.

The document provides for community revenues of more than UAH 18.1 billion, of which almost UAH 17.8 billion is for the general fund and about UAH 338 million is for the special fund. Expenditures are planned at more than UAH 18 billion, of which UAH 17.63 billion is for the general fund and UAH 374 million for the special fund. The budget also provides for the repayment of loans worth over UAH 13 million.

The deficit of the general fund will amount to about UAH 7.5 million, and the deficit of the special fund will amount to UAH 154.8 million. The reserve fund will be increased to UAH 3.84 billion, which is almost 22% of the general fund expenditures, in order to respond quickly to the urgent needs of the community.

MP Petro Obukhov asked whether teachers would receive a municipal supplement for January, as they have not yet received it, and whether those changes are now in the budget. He was told that the changes had been made and payments would continue.

In addition, they said that this year 1.8 billion would be allocated to the development budget. For comparison, last year's overhauls amounted to UAH 3.4 billion.

Special attention was paid to urban programs - more than UAH 6.47 billion will be allocated for their implementation. Almost UAH 699 million will also be allocated to pay salaries to employees of pre-schools in the combat zone. The funds will come as an additional subsidy from the state budget, and the Department of Education and Science of the Odesa City Council will control their use.

The session noted that it would not be possible to separate the funds from the budget as before, as martial law is currently in effect. It was also proposed to appeal to the Verkhovna Rada to simplify the procedure for attracting foreign investment, as even a small project must now go through the DREAM ecosystem.

In January, Odesa also adopted a set of amendments to the community budget for 2026. Additional spending was allocated for security, transportation, development of strategic programs, and business support.

As noted during the meeting, the total amount of redistribution from the reserve fund is more than UAH 75 million. In particular, UAH 21 million 604 thousand was allocated to pay for security services for facilities previously under the control of the liquidated municipal institutionMunicipal Guard. The funds were distributed among departments and administrations.

Анна Бальчінос