TI Georgia has studied the expenses of 9 administrations of State Representatives in 2021, which amounted to GEL 5,567,583 in total.

It should be noted that the institution of State Representative does not fulfill any critical functions for the functioning of the state, while the existing practice shows that the influence of State Representatives on municipalities is high – they often interfere in the activities of mayors and city councils elected directly and considerably limit their independence. In a situation where the level of decentralization is low, the institution of State Representative is an important lever for the central authorities for exercising formal or informal control over municipalities.

The study brings together the data on salaries, rewards/bonuses and salary supplements, as well as on expenses incurred by the administrations on telecommunications, business trips, fuel, repairs/diagnosis of motor vehicles, and representation expenses.

Main findings:

• In 2021, the salaries given at the administrations of State Representatives amounted to GEL 4,397,668, which equals 80% of the total expenses and, at the same time, exceeds the respective figure of 2020 (GEL 4,297,151) by GEL 100,517;
• During the same period, a total of GEL 211,210 was given in the form of salary supplements, rewards, and bonuses, which exceeds the bonuses/salary supplements given in 2020 (GEL 65,290) by GEL 145,290;
• The administrations have 98 vehicles in total (including 13 vehicles that are out of order/depreciated), on whose repairs/diagnosis they spent GEL 273,432;
• In 2021, the administrations of State Representatives spent GEL 602,937 for purchasing 230,692 liters of fuel. Similarly to the previous years, the administration of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti consumed the most fuel – 45,066 liters, with a total value of GEL 113,883; among public officials, the largest amount of fuel (10,663 liters) was spent by the State Representative in Samtskhe-Javakheti, Besik Amiranashvili;
• The expenses of telecommunications reached GEL 48,437 in 2021, while GEL 4,951 was spent on business trips;
• The administrations of State Representatives spent GEL 29,948 in 2021 on representation expenses (food and restaurant services, acquisition of beverages, etc.), the main part of which – GEL 18,889 – was spent by the administration of Imereti.

 Number of employees:

The number of employees of the administrations of State Representatives decreased in 2021; currently, 9 administrations employ 257 people, which is 18 fewer than the respective figure [1]of 2020 (275 employees).                                                                                           

The largest number of people – 35 – are employed at the administration of the State Representative in Racha Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, while the smallest number of people – 25 – are employed at the administration in Imereti.

Remuneration:                                       

• In 2021, the administrations of State Representatives gave a total of GEL 4,397,668 in the form of salaries;
• During the same period, a total of GEL 211,220 was given as salary supplements, rewards, and bonuses, which exceeds the respective figure of 2020 by GEL 145,290;
• In 2021, salary supplements, rewards, and bonuses were given in all the 9 administrations, with the largest amount – GEL 34 ,820 – given at the administration of Kvemo Kartli and the smallest amount – GEL 6,100 – given at the administration of Guria.

• In 2021, the State Representatives and their deputies did not receive any rewards, bonuses, and salary supplements;
• You can see information on salaries and bonuses received by concrete officials of the administrations of State Representatives in the table [2].

Transportation service:

The 9 administrations of State Representatives have spent GEL 876,369 on transportation service, from which GEL 602,937 was spent on the acquisition of fuel and GEL 273,432 – on the repairs of motor vehicles.

Motor vehicles and expenses for their repairs: 

• The administrations of State Representatives used 98 vehicles in total in 2021; 13 of these vehicles are depreciated or out of order;
• The administration of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti uses the most vehicles – 14, although 8 of them are depreciated;
• Interestingly, the administration of the State Representative in Guria also has 1 tractor (bulldozer) on its balance sheet;
• A total of GEL 273,432 was spent on the rehabilitation of motor vehicles in 2021.

You can see detailed information in the table [3].

Fuel:

• In 2021, the administrations of State Representatives consumed 230,692 liters of fuel, 32% of which – 74,482 liters – was consumed by State Representatives themselves; 
• The total value of the fuel consumed is GEL 602,937;
• Among the administrations of State Representatives, similarly to the previous years, the most fuel – 45,066 liters – was consumed by the administration of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, whose total value amounted to GEL 113,883. 

The State Representatives consume 400 to 1,200 liters of fuel per month. In 2021, among officials, the largest amount of fuel (10,663 liters) was spent by the State Representative in Samtskhe-Javakheti, Besik Amiranashvili. 

The administration of the State Representative in Guria failed to provide us with a list of the current and former State Representatives and information on fuel spent by them.

You can see the information on fuel spent by the State Representatives in the table [4].

The expenses incurred on the acquisition of fuel and repairs of motor vehicles are so high that it is important to make public the concrete powers and goals for the exercise/achievement of which these funds were spent.

To reduce the risks of using fuel and vehicles for non-official purposes, it is necessary to elaborate rules that will strictly regulate when and for the exercise of what type of powers motor vehicles and purchased fuel can be used. 

Expenses on telecommunications and business trips:

The administrations of State Representatives spent GEL 48,437 on telecommunications in 2021. It is noteworthy that the administration of the State Representative in Kvemo Kartli includes the expenses of television, internal landline telephones, and Internet in the telecommunications expenses; therefore, the figures of Kvemo Kartli include all these expenses.

The regional administrations have spent GEL 4,491 on business trips within the country and abroad.

You can see detailed information in the table [5]. 

Representation expenses:

• In 2021, the administrations of State Representatives spent GEL 29,948 on representation expenses, including restaurant services, as well as for the acquisition of beverages to be used in office (water, tea, coffee);
• The largest expenses – GEL 18,889 – were incurred by the administration of the State Representative in Imereti. 

You can see detailed information in the table [6].