NGOs recommend local authorities to multilaterally debate budgets for next year

The National Assistance and Information Center for NGOs in Moldova CONTACT calls on the local councils and mayors’ offices to discuss the draft local budgets for the next year at different types of public consultations. The Center has organized a series of training courses for local elected authorities on how to ensure access to information and transparency in decision making. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, project coordinator Vasile Cioaric said it is important to involve the community in the process of examining the local budget. The local elected authorities should discuss the draft budgets at multilateral debates so as to consider possibilities of increasing the sources of incomes and optimizing the costs so that the budget money is used efficiently. According to Vasile Cioaric, there is a mistaken opinion that the public authorities cannot influence the local budgets as the control figures are sent by the Ministry of Finance. But this is not right. The councilors have the possibility of stating their options, especially now when they can set the local taxes. The training courses for local authorities are held within the Domestic Election Monitoring and Voter Education in Moldova - Strengthening of Capacities and International Networking Project. The project is implemented by the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections that includes the Center CONTACT in partnership with the European Exchange Association. It is financed by the European Union.