Ikšķile Municipality Also Has Major Plans This Year

While still awaiting the adoption of the national budget, the Ikšķile Municipality budget was approved by a large majority of votes on 30 January. It was drawn up in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, taking its recommendations and forecasts into account.

Budget revenues are projected at just under EUR 13 million, while expenditure will amount to just under EUR 16 million. The difference is explained by the major investment projects, for which a loan was taken from the Treasury. Although this year’s budget is EUR 4 million smaller following the major projects implemented last year, the municipality still has no shortage of ambitious plans this year.

The largest share—37% of the municipality’s budget revenues—will be spent this year on education, school maintenance and the implementation of educational programmes. We will continue to provide substantial support for culture and sport, particularly the priority sports of tennis, football and basketball. This year we will establish our own sports school, which will provide additional opportunities for both children and their parents to engage in sport. We are also considering the construction of the Ikšķile Sports Complex.

We will continue implementing major infrastructure projects. Last year we completed the first stage of the development of Centra Square. The second stage has already begun. It is the second-largest project this year. The implementation of the Centra Square project is necessary, first and foremost, to ensure the safety of the youngest residents of Ikšķile. Ikšķile Secondary School is located in its immediate vicinity; more than 1,050 children already attend the school, and this number continues to grow. The Music and Art School and the Community Centre are also located nearby. Children are often taken to school by car, and heavy traffic in this part of the city creates dangerous situations. Until now, we have assigned municipal police officers to improve safety near the school. As a result of the development of Centra Square, we will improve the functioning of the street network by connecting Peldu Street with Skolas Street. This will improve safety, while Centra Square will highlight the centre of Ikšķile; residents and visitors will be delighted by a fountain and a clock, as well as benches and abundant greenery and plantings.

The technical design for the municipality-owned property at 4 Skolas Street is currently being prepared. This is related to increasing the capacity of the Ikšķile Music and Art School. At present, the school building also houses the library and premises leased to family doctors, which we will move to 4 Skolas Street. The library will also find its new home here, in a modern building with appropriate facilities. The new building will also house the Customer Service Centre, the Tourist Information Centre, the Orphan’s and Custody Court, as well as a large conference hall into which the municipal museum will be integrated. Using modern technologies, the hall will highlight the history of our municipality.

An important project to improve the local business environment will be implemented in Tīnūži, near the “Neste” filling station, where a new market square will be created with LEADER co-financing and a loan from the Treasury.

Significant funds have been earmarked in the municipal budget for Stage II of the “Development of Water Management in Ikšķile” project. Approximately 30 per cent of it has been implemented so far. All construction work related to this project must be completed this year, and the facility must be commissioned at the beginning of next year.

Alongside the implementation of these projects, we will continue to carry out all the autonomous functions delegated to the municipality. It is pleasing that the healthcare and social services sectors in the municipality have been put in order. We have experienced changes in these areas—a new and energetic head of the Social Service and a new head of the Health and Social Affairs Administration have recently taken up their duties.

I believe that we have drawn up this year’s municipal budget so that all the areas entrusted to it can function in balance and development can continue.