The results of the implementation of the Program of Economic and Social Development of the City for 2004 indicate that qualitative changes continue in the economic and social spheres of activity. This was reported at the regular meeting of the executive committee of the Lutsk City Council by deputy mayor Serhiy Tarasyuk.\n\nFor the sixth year now, constant growth in industrial production volumes has been ensured within the range of 20-25 percent. Thus, the volume of industrial production in 2004 compared to the previous year increased by 30.1 percent.\n\n65.5 thousand Lutsk residents are employed in the economy and social sphere of the city, which is 2.3 percent more than last year.\n\nSince the beginning of the year, industrial products have been sold at current prices totaling 1198.4 million hryvnias, which constitutes 42.9 percent of the oblast level. Per city resident, industrial products were sold to the value of 4285 hryvnias (in the oblast - 1677 hryvnias).\n\nThe growth of indicators in production and the intensification of work with loss-making enterprises contributed to ensuring a positive financial result of the city's economic complex, which amounted to over 77 million hryvnias in profit, including 50.2 million hryvnias in industry.\n\nPositive trends continued in the social sphere as well. In industry, the average monthly salary of full-time employees increased by 25.3 percent and amounts to 606.80 hryvnias. Certain progress has been achieved in paying off wage arrears. Thus, arrears were reduced by 56.8 percent and as of December 1, 2004, the amount of unpaid wages at economically active enterprises amounted to 1.5 million hryvnias.\n\nSignificant attention was paid to attracting investments into the development of the region. In 2004, 32 investments were registered in 13 enterprises for a total sum of 8.8 million US dollars and 1.4 million euros.\n\nHowever, along with the achievements, a number of unresolved issues remain in the city's economic complex. In particular, the situation with payments for housing and communal services is difficult. Thus, despite the fact that in 2004 compared to the previous year the population's debt for these services decreased by 5.2 percent, as of 10.12.2004 it amounted to 25.2 million hryvnias. The debt period for all services was 4.7 months (in Ukraine as a whole - 9.5 months).\n\nHaving heard the information from the head of the financial department Oleh Ishchuk on the implementation of the city budget for 2004, the executive committee of the Lutsk City Council noted that the city budget for 2004 was implemented at 100.9% for revenues and 100.4% for expenditures.\n\nThe general fund of the city budget without state subventions was implemented at 100.0% for revenues and 99.0% for expenditures respectively. The special fund of the city budget was implemented at 113.7% for revenues and 114.2% for expenditures.\n\nThe tax arrears to the city budget as of January 1, 2005 amounted to 3232.6 thousand hryvnias, compared to the beginning of 2004 it increased by 75.1 thousand hryvnias.\n\nThe debt for the general fund of the budget of social and cultural sphere institutions and for landscaping and capital repair works of the housing fund at the beginning of this year amounts to 10794.0 thousand hryvnias, compared to the same period last year it decreased by 5282.0 thousand hryvnias.\n\nThe debts of the city's budgetary institutions decreased over the past year by 415.0 thousand hryvnias and amounted to 236.0 thousand hryvnias.\n\nIn addition, the debt for the special fund of the city budget as of 01.01.2005 for works performed on maintenance, capital repair and reconstruction of roads amounts to 2363.1 thousand hryvnias, for capital investments at the expense of development budget funds the debt amounts to 1197.5 thousand hryvnias.\n\nThe head of the sector for consideration of citizens' appeals Larysa Karpyak reported on the work with citizens' appeals in the executive committee during 2004. In particular, she provided the following statistics: during the period from January 1 to December 31, 2004, 4389 appeals were received addressed to the city mayor and his deputies. 1872 Lutsk residents approached the city mayor and deputies at personal receptions through the sector. It is noteworthy that 22% of all issues raised by citizens at personal receptions are resolved immediately. Not a single citizens' appeal was left without response. One of the most typical issues with which citizens approach the city mayor at personal receptions is the issue of providing or expanding living space. From year to year the number of buildings classified as emergency and dilapidated is increasing, and accordingly the number of citizens' appeals who want to improve their living conditions is increasing. However, the lack of available housing stock and funds from the state budget for housing construction do not allow these appeals to be resolved positively.\n\nAlso, members of the executive committee heard issues on housing and communal services, apartment, architectural and construction, and social issues.