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What about the reform of self-government in Bratislava?
In the fourth quarter of 2019, the SAO SR also published the results of an analytical report focused on the functioning of self-government on the example and suggestions from the Capital City of Bratislava. Based on its results, SAO SR concluded that the model adopted in the early 1990s is already obsolete. As part of the analysis, the SAO SR informed about the basic challenges in the capital city in related to its inhabitants.
In relation to young families, it noted the kindergartens insufficient capacity and weak housing support. The pressure on the kindergartens capacity will increase in the future and will later transfer to primary schools. The Capital still did not meet the goal of building rental apartments for residents of restituted houses. Another problem is the competence conflict between the Capital and the City districts, which arises in the case of land and construction proceedings.
The SAO SR therefore recommends a thorough analysis of the scope and division of competencies of the City districts and the City, as well as a reassessment of the current model of income taxes redistribution paid to the local self-government. The current model of financing the self-government in Bratislava does not provide sufficient financial resources for a significant increase in the number of flats owned by Bratislava.
Bratislava also has a disadvantaged position in obtaining resources from the European Structural and Investment Funds. Therefore, the SAO SR also recommends considering a more appropriate setting of financing, reassessing the number of city districts, as well as the legislative anchoring Bratislava special position as the Capital.
The full text of the press release about this audit in Slovak language is available here. Use the Google icon in the top bar for automatic translation into the desired language.