The Court of Accounts' regularity audit reports concerning the 2025 accounts and transactions of municipalities have been made public. The reports included numerous findings regarding financial management, tenders, zoning, allocations, and revenue collection for the metropolitan municipalities of Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, as well as various district municipalities in different provinces.
The audits listed allegations of non-compliance with legislation in a wide range of areas, from the use of public resources to tender processes, and from the monitoring of illegal structures to the allocation of municipal real estate. The findings presented a picture covering different municipalities regardless of political party affiliation.
THREE METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPORT
The report concerning the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) stated that transactions contrary to contract provisions were carried out regarding certain metro lines. The Court of Accounts noted that credit and bond revenues obtained from foreign financial institutions were directed to other municipal expenditures in a manner contrary to Treasury approvals and the purposes stated in the contracts. It was stated that this situation affected progress payments and the construction process on some lines.
In the examination of vehicles belonging to or rented by the IBB, the Vehicle Management System and HGS (Fast Pass System) records were compared. According to the report, some passenger vehicles were used outside the province without a duty order; in some crossings, it was determined that HGS payments were made even though the vehicles did not actually leave the province.
In the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality report, findings regarding zoning legislation and council meetings stood out. It was stated that the opinions of superior professional organizations were not obtained for shopping mall building permits, and that erroneous permits were issued for some structures that did not meet the sales area requirement by including production and common areas in the calculation. Additionally, information that unauthorized persons participated in council meetings as members was reflected in the report.
In the report prepared for the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, it was noted that cultural centers and social facilities belonging to the municipality were allocated to certain associations free of charge, contrary to the council's tariff. The failure to implement detection, monitoring, and demolition processes regarding illegal construction in natural protected areas was also among the findings included in the report.
TENDER, ZONING, AND DEBT FINDINGS IN DISTRICTS
In the audits concerning the Aliağa, Foça, and Menemen districts of Izmir, financial records, coastal usage, festival expenditures, and real estate allocations drew attention. It was stated that the tax and social security debts of the municipality and its companies in Aliağa were underreported in the financial statements; a debt exceeding 1.1 billion TL was reflected as 158.7 million TL.
In Foça, it was determined that two hotels and one business occupied the coastline, preventing public access to the sea, and that a rental loss of 48.7 million TL occurred in the 1990-2025 period. In Menemen, findings included festival expenditures contrary to the Savings Measures Circular, opening accounts outside of public banks, and allowing the use of real estate through an "occupation contract" without a tender.
In the Aydın Metropolitan Municipality report, it was noted that only 124 out of 5,668 minibus, bus, taxi, and shuttle plates were issued via tender; 5,444 lines were utilized without a tender and indefinitely. Representation and hospitality expenses, the renting of an apartment for a sports team, and regular payments made to the local press were also topics highlighted by the Court of Accounts.
The report concerning the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality criticized regulations in tenders that restrict competition. It was stated that while the estimated cost in the "Medical Waste Service Work" tender was 6.7 million TL, a turnover requirement of 60 million TL was sought from bidders, and the work, which was obtained with a single bid, was later transferred to a subcontractor.
The report prepared for the Nevşehir Municipality included findings that the loss-leakage rate in drinking water reached 45.19 percent, unlicensed boreholes were being operated, and public transport plates were issued indefinitely without a tender. It was also reported that the authority to determine transport fare tariffs was transferred to a professional organization instead of the municipal council.
In the audit of the Ankara Keçiören Municipality, it was stated that official vehicles were allocated to council members and unauthorized persons, and that some vehicles passed through HGS toll booths in different provinces. The report also included findings that some directors continued to receive salaries, raises, and compensation without coming to work.
In the Antalya Aksu Municipality report, zoning and tender processes stood out. It was stated that there were 1,963 unlicensed or non-compliant structures reaching a total of 1 million 153 thousand square meters in all 35 neighborhoods of the district, and that 477 of the 642 demolition decisions taken by the council were not implemented.
News Source: 12punto
