Riga, Jan 22 (LETA) - The Riga City Council on Wednesday adopted the municipal budget for this year, planning to spend EUR 110 million more than last year.

The total municipal revenue this year is planned at EUR 1.47 billion, which is EUR 50 million more than in 2024.

Expenditure, on the other hand, is planned at EUR 1.694 billion.

While last year's budget expenditure was expected to exceed revenue by around EUR 164 million, in 2025 the municipality's budget expenditure is expected to exceed revenue by EUR 200 million.

The City Council explains that the bulk of the increase in spending is due to two major infrastructure projects - the implementation of the fourth phase of the Dienvidu Bridge and the construction of the Kundzinsala flyover. These projects have been agreed with the government and loans will be taken.

Overall, 34.6 percent of the budget is allocated to education, 27.4 percent to streets, bridges, roads, lighting and transport, 13.2 percent to social affairs and health, 8.2 percent to contributions to the Local Government Equalization Fund, 7.1 percent to general government services, 4.1 percent to housing and urban environment, 2.8 percent to culture and sport and 2.1 percent to security.

EUR 587.7 million of the municipal budget will be spent on education, EUR 70 million on housing and urban environment, and EUR 46.6 million on culture and sport.

Riga will contribute EUR 138.6 million to the Local Government Equalization Fund.

In total, Riga City Council's investment plan this year will reach almost EUR 300 million.