Istanbul Municipality’s Debt of 264.9 Billion TL Discussed at IMM Assembly
The first session of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Assembly during the April meetings was held at the town hall in Saraçhane, with Vice President Nuri Aslan leading the proceedings. During the meeting, AK Party Assembly Member Muhammet Kaynar addressed the financial and administrative status of the municipality, as well as the irregular use of municipal resources.
Kaynar revealed that in 2024, IMM generated an income of 179 billion 634 million pounds, while their expenses amounted to 238 billion 962 million pounds. This meant that the municipality spent 33 percent more than their income, totaling 59 billion 328 million pounds. Additionally, Kaynar highlighted that the debt of IMM had increased by 704.54 percent over the past five years.
Furthermore, Kaynar discussed the various expenditures of IMM in 2024, focusing on short-term and long-term foreign resources, total debt, as well as the budget revision which saw an increase in expenses related to concerts, events, car rentals, and personnel. He also pointed out that a significant amount was spent on metro investments.
It was also mentioned that in 2024, IMM rented 2,210 passenger vehicles due to a shortage of vehicles in Yenikapı. The total number of staff across IMM, IETT, and ISKI was 72,844, with an increase of 3,629 personnel in IETT alone within a year.
Kaynar brought attention to the tenders conducted by IMM in 2024, totaling 90 billion 597 million pounds, with some tenders exceeding the estimated cost significantly. Concerts, dance shows, social media advertising, and film productions were among the expenses mentioned.
In conclusion, Kaynar emphasized a discrepancy in a specific tender where a significant price difference was noted, underscoring the importance of transparent and responsible tender processes. The revelations made during the assembly shed light on the financial practices within IMM and raised concerns about the management of municipal resources.
