Constantin Cojocaru
The new administrative structure should be endowed with real financial autonomy that will allow local authorities to have sufficient resources for economic development.
Constantin Cojocaru emphasized that there is a broad political consensus in Moldova on the need to reform the local self-government. At the same time, he specified that the authorities should pay more attention to the mechanisms of its implementation.
“The reform is necessary,” the mayor said. – In all the platforms where we discussed this topic, all political forces, both left and right, parliamentary and extra-parliamentary, came to the conclusion that the reform is necessary. The only thing that matters is how this reform will be implemented”.
Keeping a larger share of taxes at the local level
Primar believes that the reform should include clear measures of fiscal decentralization, including keeping a larger share of taxes in local budgets.
“When implementing the reform by November, when the draft will be adopted by the Parliament, it is necessary to analyze all the details of financial decentralization,” Constantin Cojocaru added. – This includes VAT, which should remain in local budgets”
He cited the example of Edinet, where the creation of an industrial park contributed to the increase of local revenues. In his opinion, municipalities should unite to develop competitive industrial platforms.
“In the early 2000s, Edinec had almost no money for maintenance, but we created an industrial park, thanks to which the local budget doubled,” the mayor said. – The development of industrial platforms would help regional development. Their creation in every settlement is impossible. But by joining efforts, we will multiply the funds in local budgets.
