site.btaFinance Minister Says Sofia Mayor Is Solely Responsible for Funding Public Transport Wages

Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova Wednesday said Sofia's Mayor holds full responsibility for funding the wages of public transport workers. Petkova was commenting on a protest which brought the capital's transport to a halt. Metro trains are the only transport still running.

Sofia was left without public transport on Wednesday as workers demanding higher wages did not leave the depots. Trade unions are calling for a pay rise of BGN 400 this year, but Sofia Municipality has said it can only offer a 5% raise, which amounts to around BGN 100.

"Through the 2025 State Budget Act and the Automobile Transport Act, the Finance Ministry funds activities related to transportation, but does not finance personnel expenses for companies fully owned by Sofia Municipality," said Petkova. The 2025 State Budget Act allocates BGN 522 million in subsidies and compensations for all municipalities. Of that amount, BGN 106 million is earmarked for Sofia Municipality, BGN 17 million more than in 2024.

Sofia Municipality can provide funding for wages through compensation and allocation of funds from its own revenues or from carryover balances. According to the Municipality's financial report as of March 31, the carryover balance amounts to BGN 638 million, of which BGN 472 million comes from local activities and BGN 166 million from state-delegated activities, Petkova said.

"The Mayor could make a restructuring, especially considering that Sofia Municipality has not adopted its budget yet," said the Finance Minister. "Now is the time to hold negotiations and make decisions about the remuneration of employees in the city's public transport."

Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev has called on the government to support the municipality by providing additional funding for a larger wage increase in public transport.

School classes were cancelled in Sofia on Wednesday.