Demand for Ministry of Interior to Review Oversight Committee for Public Funds

The Lobby 99 organization turned to Ministry of Interior Director General Israel Ozan today, demanding a comprehensive review of the personal surcharge mechanism within local authorities, alongside strengthened monitoring and collection processes and increased transparency. The appeal follows an investigation published in "Ha-Yom" that raises serious questions regarding the current operation of the mechanism.

The letter calls for concrete steps to ensure the continuous operation of the personal surcharge committee, the effective implementation of its decisions, and greater public transparency. Specifically, Lobby 99 requests the annual publication of consolidated data regarding the committee's activity, including the number of cases reviewed, the number of surcharge decisions reached, total surcharge amounts, and collection rates.

The appeal is based on findings from the "Ha-Yom" investigation, which utilized data provided by the Ministry of Interior following a freedom of information request submitted by the Movement for Freedom of Information. The investigation revealed that between the beginning of 2025 and June 2026, only two hearing dates were scheduled for the personal surcharge committee. Furthermore, out of approximately 1.16 million shekels in personal surcharges imposed since 2019, only about 589,000 shekels have actually been collected, leaving nearly half of the total amount outstanding.