Sancaktepe Municipality's 2026 financial budget was approved by majority vote.

Prior to the meeting, Alper Yeğin delivered a comprehensive presentation to council members, stating that the Sancaktepe Municipality Strategic Plan is one of the most important indicators of a citizen-focused approach to governance. In his speech, Yeğin said, “We recognize the Sancaktepe Municipality Strategic Plan's crucial role in promoting a citizen-focused approach to local governance and fostering a culture of coexistence.”

"In preparing this plan, we prioritized the role of participation and ownership in an achievable, realistic strategic plan. We held a workshop to exchange ideas with our citizens and carefully listened to the opinions and suggestions of our neighbors regarding our district, which has become one of Istanbul's attractions with its growing population. We are working resolutely to provide every citizen of Sancaktepe with services in every area, from culture and the arts to education and sports, and from healthcare to social life, without leaving them vulnerable, despite the challenges facing the national economy," he said.

During the presentation, Yeğin provided information about projects to be carried out in collaboration with both the Sancaktepe Municipality and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. He stated that they have taken significant steps in the district since taking office. He said, "Since taking office on March 31st, we have been striving with all our might to fulfill every promise we made to the people of Sancaktepe. We held meetings in 19 of our neighborhoods to align our election manifesto with our strategic plan. During this process, we engaged all segments of society, from political parties and civil society organizations to professional organizations and our citizens. We have implemented 61 projects in 18 months."

Regarding investments in the environment and education, Yeğin said, "When we took office, the amount of green space per capita was 0.5 square meters. We said we would double this within five years. Today, in just 18 months, we've added 150,000 square meters of new green and sports space to Sancaktepe. We're working to expand the park area from 250,000 square meters to 500,000 square meters. Thousands of students are receiving education at our child development and youth centers. Last year, we provided 12,500 TL in scholarship support to 1,100 students. This year, with a new support program, whose applications will be accepted until October 20th, we will provide 18,000 TL in educational support to students who have been accepted to university and reside in Sancaktepe."

Yeğin said, "Since taking office, we have reclaimed 200,000 square meters of public space that had been given to third parties and opened it to the people of Sancaktepe. I would like to thank all my colleagues, council members, and the valued residents of Sancaktepe for their contributions to the preparation of our strategic plan and budget."

At the meeting held in the City Council Hall, council members discussed and voted on the 2026 performance program and budget items. Following the discussions, the 2026 fiscal budget of 10.22 billion Turkish Lira was approved by majority vote.

DHA

Reporter: News Center