🏛️ Beit Shemesh Municipality’s Response to the Public Complaints Ombudsman Report

The Beit Shemesh Municipality published an official response to the Public Ombudsman's report, claiming that a full reading of the report presents a broader and more complex picture than the way the data was presented in various publications.

📊 According to the report:

In 2025, 1.53 complaints were recorded in Beit Shemesh per 1,000 residents. In 2024, the figure stood at 1.34 complaints per 1,000 residents

🏙️ The Municipality emphasizes that:
✅ Only 22.8% of the complaint subjects were found to be justified.
✅ An additional 18.4% were handled and resolved without the need for an official decision

📌 Additionally, it was stated that:

▪️ About 59% of the subjects were not found to be justified

▪️ Some cases were closed without a decision

▪️ And in some of them, the investigation was discontinued in accordance with the Ombudsman's procedures

⚠️ The Municipality clarified that the published figure of 55% refers only to cases in which a full investigation was completed and a final decision was reached - and not to all complaints handled.

👶 Another topic that was highlighted:

In 2025, an exceptional increase of hundreds of percent was recorded in the number of complaints regarding the Ministry of Labor's daycare and family daycare subsidies.

According to the Municipality, as a young city with many families, Beit Shemesh stood out in the volume of inquiries in this area - but these are complaints against a government ministry and not against the Municipality itself.

💬 In conclusion, it was stated:

"The Beit Shemesh Municipality views every inquiry as an opportunity to improve service and will continue to work to strengthen the response to the residents of the city, which is growing at one of the highest rates in Israel."