Bulgaria's municipalities seek 650 million euros more from 2027 state budget
The association of municipalities cites inflation, the minimum wage and fuel prices for the 13.2 percent increase. Property tax valuations could also rise by 30 percent.
Symbolic image · Photo: MrPanyGoff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Bulgaria's municipalities are asking for around 650 million euros more from the 2027 state budget – 13.2 percent more than this year. That is the minimum needed to maintain services at their current level, Silvia Georgieva, executive director of the National Association of Municipalities (NAMRB), said on BNT's morning program on Monday (Oct. 12). She cited inflation, the expected minimum wage of 660 euros and higher fuel prices, which drive up the cost of heating, schools, kindergartens and social services. The calculations were submitted to the Finance Ministry on Sept. 4.
According to Georgieva, the government's draft tax package would raise tax valuations of property by 30 percent in 2027 – whether property tax actually rises depends on the rates set by the 265 municipal councils. Where the waste fee is still calculated on these valuations, it would be based on this year's figures. Parliament is expected to debate the package in November.
Finances were also at the center of the annual meeting of local authorities at the Albena resort. According to BTA, mayors discussed investment, schools, the new waste fee and the municipal share of the 2027 budget there with Education Minister Georgi Valchev, Regional Development Minister Ivan Shishkov and budget committee chair Konstantin Prodanov.