site.btaNational Assembly Chair Presents Legislative Initiatives to National Association of Municipal Council Chairs

National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova presented legislative initiatives and stands connected to local government to representatives of the National Association of Municipal Council Chairs in the Republic of Bulgaria, the press center of the Parliament announced on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Veliko Tarnovo Municipal Council Chair and head of the Management Board of the National Association of Municipal Council Chairs Ventsislav Spiridonov, Sadovo Municipal Council Chair and deputy head of the Management Board of the Association Atanas Telcharov, the Executive Director of the National Association, Delyan Damyanovski, Teteven Municipal Council Chair Maria Stoycheva, and Strazhitsa Municipal Council Chair Iliyan Marinov.

The municipal council chairs expressed their concern that the expenses of municipalities are growing, but options for additional revenues have not been found. Sadovo Municipal Council Chair Atanas Telcharov added that individual legislative initiatives shift the social burden on the municipalities, which would need to raise local taxes and fees. According to him, it would be appropriate to discuss financial assistance for municipalities when they need to fulfil their legal obligations.

Teteven Municipal Council Chair Maria Stoycheva said that the municipalities' expenses for waste disposal are the highest in places whose citizens who have no income or are unemployed. According to Strazhitsa Municipal Council Chair Iliyan Marinov the question of what the financial commitments to municipalities of the companies that collect waste processing fees are, remains open.

The National Assembly Chair received an invitation to attend the upcoming meeting of the members of the National Association of Municipal Council Chairs in the Republic of Bulgaria.