Local councils to receive over €48 million in 2024

Malta’s local councils are set to receive €48.4 million from the Government this year, a substantial increase over the €43.9 million received in 2023 and the largest year-on-year increase in over a decade.

The information was tabled in Parliament by Minister for Cultural Heritage, Art and Local Government Owen Bonnici, in response to a question posed by Opposition MP Chris Said.

Dr Said asked whether the increase in the allocation given to each local council would be enough to cover the increase to the cost of living and the prices of services in materials as a result of inflation.

Minister Bonnici did not answer that question directly, but referred to the table of information showing that the allocation has increased by 10 per cent over the previous year – representing the largest single-year increase since 2013.

In 2013, the financial allocation stood at €31 million, while the total financial allocation to local councils over the last 12 years was €457.8 million.

The money is used by Malta’s 68 local councils to manage their day-to-day activities, including the maintenance of public areas and waste collection.

The financial allocation is largely an incremental budgeting exercise based on population, with adjustments in line with a particular locality’s tourism arrivals.

The sum received by the capital (Valletta), former capitals (Mdina and Birgu) and other historical cities (like Qormi – Città Pinto – and Siġġiewi – Città Ferdinand) is also topped up.

St Paul’s Bay, Malta’s most populous locality and a major tourism destination, is the only local council to receive over €2 million.

The next largest allocations are received by Birkirkara, Sliema and Mosta.

These are the 17 local councils with a financial allocation over €1 million.