ÜNLÜCE: “UMT IS A PLACE FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS AND FOSTERING SOLIDARITY”
The October 2026 Ordinary Assembly Meeting of the Union of Municipalities of Turkiye (UMT) was held in Ankara. The meeting, attended by mayors and assembly members, focused on discussions of the Union’s 2027 Performance Program and 2027 Fiscal Year Budget.
The meeting was chaired by UMT Acting President and Eskişehir Metropolitan Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce, with assembly members Memet Özdemir and Eda Aksoyoğlu serving as secretaries of the presiding committee.
Ünlüce: “I Will Carry Out This Duty with Great Honor”
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, UMT Acting President Ayşe Ünlüce expressed her gratitude for the confidence placed in her during the Assembly meeting held on October 15, stating that she would carry out her responsibilities with great honor.
“We will carry out this responsibility, which has been entrusted to us by our esteemed Union President Vahap Seçer, to the best of our ability until he regains his freedom, building upon his knowledge, experience and the management approach he has established,” Ünlüce said.
She also thanked everyone who had served as president of the Union or contributed to its work as members of its governing boards.
Ünlüce stated that UMT works to strengthen the institutional capacities of municipalities, provide financial support particularly to municipalities with limited budgets, meet their vehicle and equipment needs, and support major municipal projects. She added that the Union strives to facilitate the exchange of good practices among municipalities and promote their adoption nationwide.
Emphasizing the Union’s important role in bringing together different political perspectives and diverse experiences in municipal governance under one roof, Ünlüce said:
“I would like to remind everyone that democracy is not merely about elections. Public participation in decision-making processes, representation of different views, accountability of elected officials and respect for the will of the people are indispensable elements of democratic life.”
Ünlüce: “We Will Take the Necessary Steps to Strengthen the Administrative and Financial Autonomy of Our Municipalities”
Ünlüce explained that the Union’s primary responsibilities include protecting the rights and interests of municipalities, strengthening their institutional capacities, supporting solutions to administrative and financial challenges, and providing legal assistance when necessary.
“We will take the necessary steps to strengthen the administrative and financial autonomy of our municipalities, ensure that they have financial resources commensurate with their responsibilities, and enable them to play a more effective role in decision-making processes,” she stated.
Ünlüce noted that the Union would convey its opinions and recommendations on legislative and regulatory arrangements affecting municipalities to the relevant institutions. She also emphasized that consultation, representation and advocacy activities involving the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, ministries and other public institutions would be pursued more effectively.
She further stated that efforts would be accelerated to increase the visibility of municipalities at national and international levels, support the development of new partnerships, and facilitate access to diverse sources of financing.
Ünlüce also announced that the renovation of the UMT Guesthouse is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.
2027 Budget Set at TRY 4.622 Billion
Ünlüce stated that the 2027 Performance Program aims to further strengthen the institutional capacities of municipalities and advance initiatives designed to enhance the effectiveness of local governments. She explained that the program seeks to implement its objectives while ensuring that resources are allocated in line with these priorities.
Announcing that the Union’s budget for the 2027 fiscal year amounts to approximately TRY 4.622 billion, Ünlüce said that the budget had been prepared in consideration of the strategic plan, the performance program and actual implementation results from 2026.
Emphasizing that the budget primarily prioritizes services and investments addressing municipal needs, Ünlüce announced that TRY 2.642 billion had been allocated for vehicle and equipment support, capital transfers and waste containers.
She underlined that support would continue to be distributed based on municipal needs, objective criteria, fairness and equity, adding that the 2027 budget would make significant contributions to municipalities.
Ünlüce: “This Is a Place Where We Draw Strength from One Another”
Thanking the assembly members for their participation, Ünlüce expressed her hope that the new term would be marked by unity, inclusiveness and solidarity.
Highlighting that UMT serves as a common umbrella organization for all municipalities, she said:
“This Union is our home, a place where all municipalities come together under one roof. That is why we must never leave this common space empty. Regardless of our political views or the size of our municipalities, we must always remember that UMT is a place for solving problems and fostering solidarity, a place where we draw strength from one another.”
2027 Performance Program and 2027 Fiscal Year Budget Approved by the Assembly
During the Assembly meeting, the 2027 Performance Program and 2027 Fiscal Year Budget, presented by UMT Secretary General Suat Yıldız, were discussed and approved, along with amendments to the UMT Regulation on Organization, Duties, Working Procedures and Principles.
Yıldız stated that the performance program had been prepared in coordination with the budget planning process and with the participation of all departments.
He explained that the 2027 program consists of two main programs and three subprograms. The Strengthening Local Governments Program includes five activities and 23 associated performance indicators, while the Management and Support Program comprises 23 activities and 76 indicators.
Yıldız noted that the program contains a total of 28 activities and 99 performance indicators.
During the meeting, Serinhisar Mayor Osman Kılıç and Çankaya Municipal Council Member Sercan Kavak were also elected to the Planning and Budget Commission to serve the remainder of the current term.