More services for the public
Citizens’ Assistance and Information Centers (KEP) will soon be able to carry out a further 75 services for the public, including the processing of property tax statements, applications for farm product subsidies, postal services in communities with no post offices and the renewal of immigrants’ residence and work permits. The new services, announced yesterday by Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis and his new deputy, Nikos Bistis, will bring the total number of services to 791 by September. At the moment there are 615 of these centers, a number which is expected to rise to 757 by the end of August and 1,000 by year’s end, employing 3,500 staff, many on temporary contracts, and at a total operating cost of 150 million euros. This year the cost is covered by the Information Society program, although as of next year the municipalities will be expected to assume the burden. Skandalidis said part of the financing would come from a «symbolic fee» that people will pay for each service.
