Buzu: 376 decisions made on merging local municipalities

Buzu: 376 decisions on unification of mayoralties were made at the local level

So far, 376 decisions on the merger of mayoralties have been taken at the local level, said Alexei Buzu, secretary-general of the government, in connection with the parliamentary approval of a law that simplifies the process of voluntary merger.

Alexey Buzu

The exact number of mayoralties will be known only in the fall, but after 2027 there will be no more mayoralties with a population of less than 3,000 residents. By that time, 80% of them will have to unite, as Alexei Buzu said earlier on the air of one of the TV channels. At the same time, the authorities expect to accelerate the process of voluntary unification, as the adopted changes will facilitate reorganization.

3 times more funds from the state budget

The merging mayoralties will receive 3 times more funds from the state budget for infrastructure, while the authorities promise to support them throughout the process.

In addition, the changes adopted by the Parliament reduce bureaucracy and give more flexibility to local communities. Fewer documents will be required to initiate the process. All that is needed is a brief justification and a list of the communities to be merged.

Local authorities will have more freedom in choosing the administrative center and the name of the new unit, and the decision to merge can be made by a majority vote of elected councillors.

The strict limit of 25 km between settlements will be abolished, and public services will be retained at the local level, including through unified service centers, so that citizens do not have to travel to the new administrative center.

No early elections will be held in the united localities until the local elections in 2027.

Those who refuse will remain without financial support

At the same time, Oleksiy Buzu previously specified that those who refused voluntary unification will remain without financial support. Compulsory unification will be carried out by law and does not provide additional incentives for communities.

Therefore, the localities that do not decide on voluntary association by July will remain without financial support and will be obliged to fulfill the provisions of the law adopted by the authorities.

At the same time, as the mayors noted earlier, the voluntary association process takes more time and communities may not be able to meet the deadline.