News
Funds Earmarked. Promising Outlook for Stage III of the Government Oświęcim Strategic Program
The local authorities taking part in the Government Oświęcim Strategic Program are to receive 6 million złotych from the Polish budget this year and in each of the next 4 years.
In previous years, there were sometimes difficulties with the appropriations, conceived of as compensation for difficulties stemming from the nearby location of the concentration camp site. At times, it was unclear whether the four local government bodies concerned—the voivodship, county, city, and Oświęcim rural commune—would receive any funds at all.
Even last year, before the state budget was passed, Civic Platform parliamentary delegate Janusz Chwierut had to fight in the finance committee for the entire appropriation, since the original bill called for it to be halved. “Stage III of the GOSP begins in 2007,” said Chwierut, “and the appropriation for this year is 6 million złotych, and 6 million for each of the next 4 years as well.”
The appropriation for Stage III, covering the years 2007-2011, will be divided halfway through the year between the participating authorities, of which there are now five, since the State Higher Vocational School in Oświęcim has been added. The School wants to use the funds for capital investments, including the adaptation of the second of the former Tobacco Monopoly buildings.
Consultations and meetings of the authorities involved in the GOSP went on for almost 2 months, but were free of the heated emotions that sometimes arose in previous years.
Over the next five years, Oświęcim county will receive the largest share of the money—a total of 10 million złotych. The rural commune will receive 7.85 million, the city 5.85 million, and Małopolska voivodship 2.3 million. The new partner, the school, can count on 4 million złotych.
“A total of 10 million is reserved for the county in the GOSP, but the value of the investments made possible will be as high as 20.35 million,” said the office of the county executive.
The county expects to undertake eight major tasks, three of which will be new, while the other five represent the continuation of ongoing initiatives. One of the new programs is the construction of an Education-Sport Center at County General, Sports Champions, and Technical School Complex No. 2 in Oświęcim.
The city will use GOSP funds for adaptation of the area around the Soła river dykes, and for the continuing renovation of the main town square.
