On structural changes in the municipality of Rezekne municipality
In 2009, when Rezekne municipality formed, it was decided that it would consist of 25 territorial units for parish. The management of each parish shall be ensured by the municipal council of the municipality of Rezekne, financing shall be calculated taking into account the number of residents of each parish, the area, the municipal infrastructure objects (school, pre-school educational institution, museum and others). As the population decreases, the municipality of Rezekne is looking for various ways of reducing administrative or so-called “office” expenditure as of 2012. One of the ways of saving money is the implementation of structural changes in rural areas, in this way through more economical and efficient use of local government funds, that is, taxpayers' money, without changing the essential – to ensure the performance of local government functions in each parish without worsening their quality and accessibility. It is important to note that it is not a parish combination or parish closure, but rather a structural change in the parish administration.
As the first parish administration in which structural change was implemented, there was Kantinieki in the first half of 2014. “At first we went hot,” recalls Rita Baltere, head of the Consultative Council OF Kantinieku. “There was no experience and no knowledge of how it would be, but it was good that we discussed and argued, because, in a short time, we came to the result, together, we agreed that the budget estimates for both parishes would be separate and understood how we would work in the future.” At present, a year and a half after structural change, Rita Baltere considers that the economy has been significant and is now well seen: “the administrative resource is transforming into various jobs and projects. In a short period of time, more than 22 thousand EURO, the illumination of the village, which had not been paid for the previous 20 years, was done in the same way, as well as the improvement of the village and the creation of a parking area.“ The head of the consultative council says that nothing has stopped in the parish life, the quality of the service of the population has not fallen, all necessary as it was, it is also available on the spot, but the work is done more. Rita Baltere recommends a very responsible choice of the head of the unit: “we, the citizens themselves, asked the former parish council Maria Vasilyeva to assume the responsibilities of the unit. We trust her and she has been acquainted with our trust. 'Rita Baltere emphasizes:“ Kantinieki is not gone, and these parishes will not be lost as well! ”
Structural changes do not mean parish mergers, parish closures or loss of parish name, but a change of the legal status of a local government institution from a “local government institution” to a legal status “unit of a local government institution”. In direct form, the parish population will not feel structural change. All services that were necessary from the parish administration will continue to be available in the same parish administration building, in the same offices as above. Both the cashier, the social worker, the Orphan's court, the feldsher point and other specialists will remain on the spot. There are no grounds for concern because, contrary to various rumours, the parish institutions – a library, a cultural house, a school and a pre-school educational institution – remain unchanged. There are no other changes, and as in previous years, these parishes will continue to have their own budget, and the money spent during structural reforms will be a number of tens of thousands OF EURO each year – will remain for the parish, and the use of these funds will be decided by each parish with the population together.
In reorganisation, more efficient use of existing funds is achieved, that is, this money will not be used for the maintenance of the office but for real, parish work. It should be noted that the economy of the funds arises by combining the functions performed by parish administrations, such as the responsibilities of the parish manager, which will henceforth be combined with the duties of the utility of the utility holding, as well as the organisation of accounting, including the maintenance of the accounting program, which costs around 1.5 thousand annually. EUR.
Structural changes are currently planned in rural areas where there is a small population (below 700) and small infrastructure – there is no school or pre-school educational institution, a small total length of roads, but there are large administrative or “office” expenditure. The next year is planned to make structural changes in three parish administrations – Pušā (from 2016 – joint administration with Maltas parish administration), Makoņkalns (joint administration with Kaunatas parish administration) and Stalerova (joint administration with Griškānu parish administration). In order to inform the population about structural changes, the population meetings were held in each of these parish administrations.
Pušas parish administration the basic budget is 166 193 EURO in 2015. Of which almost half – 49.2 percent or 81.90 thousand THE AMOUNT OF THE remuneration shall be drawn up by the remuneration fund for the employees of parish administration and parish institutions, as well as the costs of maintenance of the administration. In total, 450 residents live in parish. As per capita, the budget expenditure is 369.32 EURO, of which 182.0 EURO is spent in the administration of the administration, although at the same time these funds could be channelled to various jobs for rural development. In performing the reorganisation of office units, Pušā would combine the position of the head of the parish administration and the office of the utility of the utility, the position of the cashier and the clerk, the land case specialist would be shared with the administration of THE parish OF Maltas. The reduction in the expenditure of the administration in the annual cut would be almost 22.5 thousand EUR - these funds remain Pušā and citizens can decide jointly what jobs are to be channelled. It should be noted that IN Pušas parish it is planned to form a joint administration directly with THE administration of Maltas parish, as both parishes already have wide functional links – uniform Orphan's Court services, a large proportion OF Pušas children attend Maltas pre-school educational institution, Maltas secondary school and music school, as well AS THE nearest family doctor nearest TO Pušas parish residents is Maltā.
Mākoņkalna for parish management it is planned to create a joint administration with Kaunatas parish, as many functions are now common, including educational institutions and children/pupils transport, maintenance of local government roads, activities of the utility farm and labour protection, organisation of social aid, land-based specialists, unified accounting and Orphan's court services. In 2015, THE basic budget OF Mākoņkalna parish is 257 293 EURO, the entire remuneration fund is 152.12 thousand EURO. EUR (59,12 per cent), including the remuneration of the administration, shall be EUR 41677. Each of the 642 parish residents is 400,77 EURO, of which 236,93 EURO, including 64,92 EURO, is the remuneration of the administration per capita. As a result of structural changes, THE parish OF Mākoņkalna will be estimated at EUR 22 892 to be used to carry out the various works.
Stoļerovas parish administration the basic budget is EUR 338 756 IN 2015. The remuneration fund is EUR 197 366, including the administrative costs of the administration, EUR 52 876. The entire remuneration fund accounts for 58,26 per cent of the annual budget. Currently, 661 people live in parish. EUR 512,49 PER year is allocated to each of the residents. From this amount, EUR 298,59 per capita is spent on the salaries of the parish administration and parish institutions. Already currently, Stoļerovas and Griškānu parish have shared educational institutions, children/pupils transport, Orphan's court activities, labour protection and fire safety, land equipment, municipal roads and social assistance. By reorganizing the work of parish administration, approximately 39 thousand will be invested. EUR, which Stoļerovas parish will be able to invest in rural development.
If an average of 70 to 72 EURO is spent per capita in the municipality of Rezekne, these parish spending is significantly higher: Pušā – 115 EURO, Stockerow – 104 EURO and Eur 92 IN Makoņkalns.
The issue of making structural changes IN Pušas and Mākoņkalna parish administration is seen at the meeting of Rezekne District Council, while the issue of making structural changes IN THE parish administration of Stoļerovas will be postponed until the next meeting of the territorial committee. In the near future, another meeting of the population is expected to introduce amendments to the council regulations and the residents can select the heads of the unit from their centre. We call on citizens to play an active part in this process, both by attending meetings and by asking unclear questions!
Madara Laksa,
Public relations specialist of the municipality of Rezekne
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS IN CITIZENS 'MEETING
Will the parish in which structural changes have been made will have its own budget?
The principle of financing remains unchanged: each parish will have its own budget. The economy, as a result of structural changes, will be a real economy that will remain in the same parish to carry out various economic activities.
Will you have to go to the next parish to write an application, receive advice, or ask a question?
With all the experts you've gone to so far, you'll be able to continue. All existing services provided by the parish will remain on the site, such as the clerk, the cashier, the social worker, the Orphan's Court. The head of the unit will also be on the spot.
Will the center be only in Grishweans, Kaunatā and Maltā?
Just as so far, both the parish centre and the parish administration building will remain IN Pušā, Makoņkalns and Stalerov.
Will the library and other institutions remain?
All institutions that have worked so far – a cultural house, library, feldshire point, school, pre-school educational institution – will continue to work after the implementation of structural changes in the parish administration.
Will it take longer to get some documents or make payments?
As employees will be on the spot, the service will take the same time as so far.
Why are structural changes taken directly in these parishes?
Structural changes are carried out in small parishes with a population of below 700 people. Over time, structural changes will also be made in other small parish administrations.
Will the construction and reconstruction work that the parish had begun stop?
Continuity of each parish activity will be ensured. All jobs that were started or scheduled will continue. The funds for these works will be as expected, and in addition to the structural changes, the parish will have a number of tens of thousands of thousands to be used for other jobs each year.
When do i need to do any work, such as the repair of a road, which of the parishes will be a preference?
What works will be planned in each parish, such works will also be performed.
Will we have to pay a second parish credit?
No. As each parish will have its own budget estimate, all expenses, including credit payments, will be unrelated to each parish. No accent in the other parish government's wallet.
Is a total of ten thousand EUR per year a sufficiently large amount to make such changes?
But otherwise there would be no money. Every year about 30 thousand means that, for example, in five years they are 150 thousand and there is already enough money to make significant improvements in rural life.
Who will determine how the money will be used?
It will be determined by the citizens themselves, both through the public advisory councils, the meeting of the population, and by the head of the parish unit.
Will those people who now have more jobs or will pay?
As the amount of work increases, the wages of employees will increase.
Will the same postal address remain?
Both the parish name and the address of each resident will remain unchanged.
Will the white road signs be removed when entering the parish center?
Structural changes will only affect the “office” of the parish administration. Both the parish centre, the parish area and the relevant road signs that were so far will remain on the spot.
What will i change as a parish citizen?
All the offices and the staff you've been to have stayed where so far. The biggest benefit – the resources invested will be used in rural development.
Will the costs of the administration be reduced by structural changes in parish? What good is it?
When structural changes are made in rural areas, the costs of the administration will not be reduced. It should be noted that various ways to reduce costs are also searched and implemented in the municipality. It's a good thing to get more work on this money!