RIGA, Jan 21 (LETA) - The priorities of this year's Riga municipal budget are the needs of residents, Riga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs (Progressives) said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Although there is no significant increase in this year's planned budget, Kleinbergs promised that, while meeting the main needs, funds will be invested and spent more wisely in order to achieve the best possible results.

In the mayor's view, the main goal is to ensure that people do not leave Riga, that those who have left return, and that as many people as possible move to Riga.

To achieve this goal, the priorities are education, welfare, security, transport infrastructure, and economic development. All of these areas are important for achieving the objective, Kleinbergs said.

The mayor focused particularly on the area of traffic and transport, noting that this year will see the completion or continuation of major infrastructure projects that have already been started, such as the Jorgis Zemitans Overpass, the fourth phase of the South Bridge, and start of design work on the Vansu Bridge reconstruction, and other projects.

The municipality plans to create new public transport connections, as well as extended routes in the suburbs, without increasing subsidies to the municipal public transportation company Rigas Satiksme.

The construction of 15 mobility points will be completed and work will begin on the next ones to integrate railways into the capital's transport system.

Riga Deputy Mayor Edvards Ratnieks (National Alliance) emphasized the tackling of security issues, noting that work will begin on the installation of 146 shelters and the new Riga Municipal Police Command Center will be opened.

The deputy mayor announced that there are plans to increase the salaries of municipal police officers this year. The largest salary increase-16 percent -is planned for traffic police officers.

Riga Deputy Mayor Vilnis Kirsis (New Unity) emphasized the importance of social cohesion, noting that this can be achieved through schools by completing the transition to Latvian as the language of instruction.

He also mentioned the reorganization of social services and the organization of Riga festivals, which are expected to attract 300,000 visitors to the capital.

As reported, the Riga City Council plans to review this year's municipal budget today. Riga's municipal budget revenues this year are planned to be EUR 37.6 million higher than last year.

Total revenues this year are projected at EUR 1.508 billion, while last year's budget revenues were projected at EUR 1.470 billion.

Expenditures are planned to amount to EUR 1.702 billion, which is just under EUR 194 million more than revenues.