RIGA, March 29 (LETA) - Latvia's Association of Large Cities (LLPA) calls on Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) not to put expenses for the vaccination centers on local governments, but find a different financing source, LETA learned from LLPA spokesman Kaspars Licitis.

The organization said that the government on March 24 decided that the responsible ministries should submit proposals to the government on covering expenses at the request of local governments for ensuring vaccination.

"As the government has made such a decision on mass vaccination centers, local governments will be forced to pay for that, once again rushing to help the state to solve problems it is not able to solve, being thus "punished" for their initiative," said LLPA executive director Viktors Valainis (Greens/Farmers).

He said that in the past six months, the government and the parliament have made a number of decision that have left significant impact on financial situation of local governments. During the state of emergency, demand for social assistance in local governments has increased, and so has financial burden on local budgets.

Therefore LLPA has called on the government before handing down government functions to local governments, respective funding should be earmarked from the government budget, promoting mutual communication.