The need for immediate amendment of the current legal framework concerning the concession and management of beaches by Municipalities is highlighted by the Mayor of Hersonissos, Zacharias Doxastakis, in a letter to the Board of Directors of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE).
Mr. Doxastakis is sounding the alarm about the problems created by the current regime, as – as he states – the General Directorate of Public Property of the Ministry of Finance and the Land Services are already asking municipal enterprises to pay a fee equal to 40% of their gross income for the use of the beaches in 2024. A percentage that, according to him, is impossible to cover, as the Municipalities have additional costs for payroll, equipment renewal, lifeguard coverage and cleaning.
To address this situation, the Mayor of Hersonissos suggests to the KEDE to promote a proposal for the issuance of a new Joint Ministerial Decision, which will stipulate that in cases where Municipalities or their municipal enterprises directly manage the granted public spaces, the consideration in favor of the State will be limited to 10% of the gross revenues, based on their balance sheets.
“Local Government cannot continue to operate under conditions of financial suffocation and uncertainty,” states Mr. Doxastakis, emphasizing that “the management of beaches must be done with respect for the needs of local communities and in realistic terms. We are asking for a fair and applicable framework, which will allow Municipalities to meet their obligations without undermining their sustainability.”
