Warsaw’s mayor, Rafał Trzaskowski, has claimed that the government took away PLN 10 billion from the capital, a figure dismissed by Masovian Voivode Tobiasz Bocheński as unfounded. On Wednesday, Bocheński stated via social media that the amount mentioned by Trzaskowski had never appeared in the city’s accounts.
While commenting on the government’s 2023-2030 program to support Warsaw’s development, approved on Tuesday, Trzaskowski suggested that money could be used if it becomes available. He also noted that the city believes it has already suffered a significant loss due to budget changes implemented at the national level.
Statements from the Mayor of Warsaw
Trzaskowski estimated that Warsaw has already been shorted by PLN 10 billion because of national budget revisions. He warned that the government plans to repurpose only a portion of any funds by 2030, effectively implying a partial recovery of funds previously redirected from the city.
The mayor’s assertion that the government allegedly removed PLN 10 billion from Warsaw drew reactions from the capital’s authorities, who stressed that such a sum had never appeared in the city’s ledgers.
The governor asserted that the claim about PLN 10 billion was not accurate, and added that the political landscape around Campus Poland remains neutral in its commentary.
According to the governor, the city never carried PLN 10 billion in its accounts. It is difficult to claim ownership of money it did not possess. The mayor’s supporters argued that today a portion of the supposed amount is essentially held by younger residents who pay personal income tax at 26, and by pensioners who, due to a government decision, do not pay PIT at all.
That point was emphasized in the discussion as part of the broader debate over how state budgets affect local funding and the tax burden on residents.
What do Trzaskowski’s remarks indicate?
Observers noted that whenever a city leader or any local official says the national government has taken money away, it often signals a call for higher taxes on younger generations and retirees today, framed as compensation for past allocations. The governor weighed in to offer perspective on this interpretation.
Meanwhile, questions arose about the value of a PLN 3 billion allocation claimed by the city in exchange for public commentary. Critics asked whether the city’s leadership should be highlighting donor benefits while criticizing prior funding decisions.
The governor also commented on the social media response, noting that a dismissive reaction or a negative thumbs-down can reflect frustration that honest dialogue sometimes fails to land well in public forums.
Overall, the exchanges underline a broader tension between national fiscal policy and local budgeting, with Warsaw’s leadership arguing for a more favorable financial environment for investment and growth, while opponents emphasize the costs shouldered by residents and local agencies.