Laptops—up to 50,000, phones—up to 10: Odessa revises rules for the use of budget funds

Odessa has set new spending limits for the purchase of furniture, computer equipment, mobile phones, and mobile phone service for municipal budget institutions. The decision is intended to strengthen financial discipline and ensure a more rational use of city budget funds.

The relevant decision was adopted at a session of the Odessa City Council.

It establishes a new procedure regarding spending limits for the purchase of equipment, furniture, and communication devices for executive bodies, municipal institutions, and organizations funded by the budget of the Odessa City Territorial Community.

The explanatory note to the document stated that its purpose was to ensure the effective use of budget funds and to strengthen control over expenditures during procurement.

The draft decision provided for the approval of maximum allowable amounts for the purchase of specific categories of property. In particular, the cost of a single mobile phone was not to exceed 10,000 hryvnias, and monthly expenses for mobile communications for official purposes—500 hryvnias.

For the purchase of computer equipment, a uniform limit of 50,000 hryvnias was set for both personal computers and all-in-one PCs, as well as for laptops or tablets with an operating system.

The document also specified maximum amounts for purchasing furniture. A set of furniture for a manager’s office could be purchased for up to 55,000 hryvnias. Separate limits were set for equipping employee workstations: a desk—up to 6,000 hryvnias, an office chair with fabric upholstery—up to 5,000, with eco-leather—up to 10,000 hryvnias, and cabinets for documents and clothing—up to 6,000–6,500 hryvnias.

Separately, the maximum cost of safes was set at up to 20,000 hryvnias, and for television, radio, and video equipment for executive offices—up to 30,000 hryvnias per unit.

In addition, the draft provided for entrusting the Odessa Office of the State Treasury Service with monitoring compliance with the established limits when paying the bills of budgetary institutions.

At the same time, the document proposed repealing the 2016 decision of the Odessa City Council, which regulated similar expenditures and no longer corresponded to current prices and the operating conditions of local government bodies.

In the first months of 2026, the executive committee of the Odessa City Council, in addition to building maintenance and utilities, spent funds on equipment, furniture, awards, and printing. Among the unusual expenditures were the purchase of blinds, water heaters, and programming for a facade clock. In total, expenditures amounted to at least approximately 10 million hryvnias for procurement and operational support of the institution. 

Анна Бальчінос