Danger of wage delays: Local Government Center petitions against High Court order
The Local Government Center has petitioned the High Court to lift a budget freeze, warning that the delay threatens salary payments for 'Summer Vacation School' staff. The court previously blocked several transfers approved by the Finance Committee.
The Local Government Center is demanding that the High Court of Justice cancel the temporary order issued last Wednesday to freeze a series of budget transfers approved by the Finance Committee after it was dissolved for elections. The Center is requesting to unfreeze funds for the "Summer Vacation Schools," settlements in the Negev and on the northern border, and a rehabilitation program for Ashkelon.
The Local Government Center argues that these are essential programs for implementation in local authorities, where promoting the budgeted activity is "appropriate, correct, and essential."
According to Adv. Mira Salmon, Head of the Knesset Administration at the Local Government Center:
"In the budget request to the Ministry of Education, alongside programs for upgrading educational institutions, there are areas whose promotion is not only appropriate and essential, but also urgent. This concerns, among other things, financing the payment of salaries for employees who operated the 'Summer Vacation Schools' in kindergartens and primary schools throughout the last month. This allowed the economy to function as usual, with parents going to work daily. Delaying these funds could lead local authorities to face massive unexpected expenses or, alternatively, a delay in salary payments for those who worked during July 2026."
The Local Government Center is asking the High Court to order the cancellation of the temporary freeze regarding the 'Summer Vacation Schools' or, alternatively, to schedule an urgent hearing. The High Court has scheduled a hearing on the full petition for August 18, 2026.
Adv. Yifat Solel of the Hiddush organization, representing MK Naama Lazimi, stated she leaves the request to the discretion of the High Court. The Knesset representative, Adv. Yitzhak Bart, agreed to comply with the Center's request, but the Ministry of Finance has yet to respond.
Supreme Court Justice Alex Stein decided on Wednesday to freeze the Finance Committee's decision to transfer 366 million shekels to Haredi and state-religious education, as well as the 'Summer Vacation School' funding, with the exception of civil emergency expenses (protection of the North).
