Kherson approves community development program for 2026-2028

Kherson has approved the Program of Economic and Social Development of the City Territorial Community for 2026-2028. The document defines the key priorities for restoring the city, supporting the community's vital activities and utilizing Kherson's potential under martial law and beyond.

The relevant order was signed by Yaroslav Shanko, Head of Kherson MVA.

The program aims to restore a competitive community and create conditions for sustainable development of the city. It is about improving the well-being of residents, community cohesion in the social, humanitarian, economic, environmental and spatial dimensions. The main emphasis is on meeting the basic needs of the population, maintaining critical infrastructure and comprehensive restoration of damaged facilities.

The program is designed for 2026-2028 and will be financed from the budget of the Kherson city territorial community, the state budget, as well as other sources not prohibited by law.

Budget revenues: plan implementation and revenue dynamics

In January-September 2025, the budget of the Kherson community received UAH 2 billion 296.3 million. This is 93.9% of the initially approved annual plan and 82.3% of the revised plan as of the end of September. At the same time, the revenues exceeded the targets for the reporting period and amounted to 104.2%.

Official transfers accounted for the largest share of community revenues in the first nine months of 2025, amounting to UAH 1 billion 351.6 million. Taxes and fees brought in UAH 910 million, and own revenues of budgetary institutions - UAH 34.7 million. Compared to the same period in 2024, total revenues decreased by UAH 561.7 million, mainly due to a decrease in official transfers by UAH 584.8 million and a drop in own revenues of budgetary institutions.

At the same time, the personal income tax showed positive dynamics. In the first nine months of 2025, personal income tax revenues amounted to UAH 634.6 million, which is UAH 60.9 million more than last year. This tax remains the key budget-forming source of the community and accounts for almost 70% of all tax revenues.

Main expenditures: education and housing and communal services

Education and housing and communal services are among the largest areas of budget expenditures. Education was allocated UAH 882.3 million, which is 43% of all expenditures. Compared to 2024, these expenditures decreased by UAH 24 million due to a decrease in the number of children in educational institutions. By contrast, housing and utilities expenses increased by UAH 53.2 million to UAH 447.8 million. This is due to the need to ensure the stable operation of utilities under martial law. Together, these two areas cover almost 65% of all budget expenditures.

The program also describes the state of public procurement. In the first nine months of 2025, budget spending units and utility companies concluded 199 contracts through procurement procedures worth more than UAH 250 million. In addition, 4,174 contracts totaling more than UAH 506.7 million were concluded without using the electronic procurement system.

Kherson also adopted the City Passenger Transport Development Program for 2026-2028 with a budget of over UAH 234 million. It is planned to purchase 30 new buses and 10 trolleybuses over three years.

Анна Бальчінос