In a recent tour of Bnei Brak, Avigdor Maoz, Director of the
Ministry of the Interior, stated, "I am convinced that the
Bnei Brak Municipality will stand by all economic and social
obligations it has undertaken to make the municipal systems
more efficient, for the benefit of all citizens. Welcome
efforts have already been made in these areas." The purpose
of his visit was to study the Municipality's needs and to
explore the possibility of financial aid from the Ministry of
the Interior.
Maoz stressed the importance of the efforts by Mayor Rabbi
Mordechai Karelitz since the newly elected city council has
taken office to solidify a municipal budget reducing
expenditures while not reducing municipal services. Maoz
added that today the Ministry of the Interior is struggling
with the complicated problems of many local authorities that
are suffering from large deficits at precisely the same time
that there has been a drastic cut in Governmental funding to
cover these deficits. The Ministry is, however, aware of Bnei
Brak 's unique situation and the need for extraordinary
measures and combined efforts by all parties to solve its
particular problems.
Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz explained what the Municipality had
done in the way of budget cuts, to reduce the deficit. In
conjunction with this, he mentioned new wide range city
building plans for development in general as well as plans
for the area in the north of the city soon to be presented
for approval to the local Planning and Building Commission.
"Such plans bring with them a series of real estate
entrepreneurs planning considerable financial investments in
these areas for high tech companies, commercial centers and
offices." Rabbi Karelitz thanked Mr. Shmuel Lasker, the
official in charge of the Bnei Brak area in the Ministry of
Interior, for his help in advancing these plans.
Municipal Secretary and Spokesman, Avrohom Tannenbaum,
discussed the development of the city in the spiritual,
educational, social and economic areas. He stressed that
Mayor Karelitz and the City Council are working hard to find
solutions to make municipal services more efficient, to
improve methods of tax collection, and to effect changes in
the implementation of large-scale economic projects.
City Treasurer Shmuel Shemesh delivered a financial report,
noting that the city deficit was reduced from 120 million
shekel in 1997 to 40 million NIS this year. The cumulative
deficit at the end of `98 was 101 NIS. In discussions between
the Ministry of the Interior and the Treasury, a solution has
yet to be found to this problem, which interferes with sound
financial management. He expressed his hope that in a few
years with the completion of the new economic developments,
including those in the north of the city, the city's revenue
will rise, enabling it to reach economic independence with a
balanced budget.
Other city and Ministry of Interior officials took part in
the meetings.
At the end of his visit, Avigdor Maoz, director of the
Ministry of the Interior, and Rabbi Karelitz visited the
headquarters of Ezra Lemarpeh, where he met with its
director, Rabbi Elimelech Firer. Rabbi Firer explained recent
developments in the organization's work with the elderly and
other sectors.
