The number of local government representatives could be reduced by almost fifty percent if parliament adopts the government’s local government reform, Local Government Minister Istvan Gyenesei told reporters on Wednesday.
The bill seeks to make the local government system more efficient and democratic, as well as cutting costs, Gyenesei said.
Concerning details of the proposal, the minister said that the current number of local deputies — 25,941 nationwide — would be cut by 45.7 percent to 14,077. The cutback would reduce the cost of municipalities by an annual 8 billion forints (EUR 26.2m), Gyenesei said.
Villages with a population under 1,500 would no longer have a local government of their own, and settlements inhabited by fewer than 500 people could only employ a fulltime mayor in exceptional cases, the minister said.
The package, if passed by parliament, could result in savings totalling 20 billion forints each year (EUR 66 m), Gyenesei said.
Put “large” in front of “number” in the title,
and read it again.
I do not agree with Stan very often but this time no problem. Maybe it should even read “too large”.
Far too large more like it!!!
take out “number of”, put “literally” at the end and I’m on board.
Hallelujah! Though my sympathies go out to those that will be unemployed.
Pity that we’ve endured 2+ years of “Austerity” before some bright spark figured out that there are too many villages. But will 1500 turn out to be too low a cutoff given the situation of the treasury?
A couple of things still don’t make sense. It figures that each of these people cost the treasury about 1.7M, or 140K per month per head. How is that possible? Are they all part-timers?
And if the total savings is just for payroll, what about closing up buildings, their maintenance, utilities, as well as providing furniture, computers, support services. I would have thought consolidating the municipalities would have a much larger effect than only saving .4 % off the country’s debt this Year (if the debit comes in between 520 and 600B).
Will the country have to pay redundancies?
This is indeed a great idea, long overdue. As such, Fidesz will shoot it down immediately – it can’t pass without their support.
This is insane. It is the bloated Parliament and all the Budapest districts where the numbers should be cut, with MPs who show up in their constituencies just before election time, and then write off forint millions on petrol, living and other expenses, not the smaller municipalities. Not to mention the incredible corruption going on in district governments. Agreed, a full-time mayor is probably not necessary in 500- towns, but in general it is local government which should be strengthened, and central government paired down.
Want to cut costs? Give everyone train and bus passes. And make every MP and district representative
And make every MP and district representative account for all their expenses: http://www.seresmaria.hu/
Yes, Tunde, they should streamline the districts and the Parliament, too.
The trouble with the latter is that lowering the number of MPs entails changing the electoral system – the number of seats assigned by party lists, proportional voting, etc. Inevitably, the two big parties will prefer different systems, depending on which one they think will give them the most seats. So don’t hold your breath.
Hungary has a sprawling mass of agricultural land
interspersed with many villages and towns.
Clown prince Gyurscany, and others, need to go out and look at the total decimation of communities in these areas.
Saving a pittance by withdrawing admin connected to these areas is laughable.
What is required is an updated system/administration for dealing with rural areas including, transport, roads, jobs,skill centres, schools,Roma problems, and other assorted issues too numerous to bore you with.
Ferenc is a wild bull running riot: slashing jobs, raising VAT, creating dubious government departments to counter courruption..this I would applaud if I could believe that it would be a totally independent body?!
An all-party executive has to be appointed to draw up, and, carry out, the badly-needed reforms our erstwhile, dithering leader, is so reluctant to do.
Some very good arguments put forward by bloggers here, where you guys been in the other forums? This thread is a good example to how `Real bloggers` behave and think, sadly other threads in other forums or on a gutter level with personal attacks and mud slinging.
I live in the countryside, and one can see the have`s and have not`s quite plainly.Those with gardens who grow all sorts of fruit and veg for personal consumption or selling, these people also usually a main work place and a second work place or profession to make up enough income to live and
enough to save a little. Then their are the others who don`t have to grow their own produce and have grass lawns, garage, new or quite new car and have the one job, usually they are higher qualified, commute to jobs in Budapest or run a locally run very profitable business. Myself I find I have to work Saturdays and Sundays quite often just to compensate for the doubling of my utility bills. Also I`m proud to have a very productive garden and keep rabbits, chickens and ducks.
Hungary should increase it`s organic locally grown produce, it has the climate.I see also the realities of the Hungary of today, one of my neighbours who retired last year, now works on the side with other pensioners in an onion packing and sorting place. She gets 350ft an hour
and there are 10 other old ladies there.The place sells to Tesco`s and Auchean. Then I have an English friend who employs a builder, whom he pays 100,000ft a week.Ratio of 10to1
PS I have many Hungarian friends in Budapest who
have a `good` standard of living, but I have to wait months before they have free time to go out for a drink because their work places demand loyalty for their good salaries, which means “The boss is always right”, They say “the moment I employed you, your soul belongs to me, you don`t like it then get a job where you will get a lower salary.”
Workplaces and a good salary is the new Hungarian religion. When the boss says jump…you ask “How high?”
Hello ….. “boss says jump you ask How high?” Isn’t that what you do?? DUH!!!
@ are you thick or just short sighted, Duh..I don`t have a boss! Self employed old chap…
mawar? where did you get that name??
Bernie says: “how `Real bloggers` behave and think”.
There ain’t no bloggers here, only a bunch of people with big stinky opinions. Half the fun is to put down others you don’t even know. You do that all the time, so don’t act like you’re here for “argument” when you paid for “abuse”, and that’s what you’re getting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDjCqjzbvJY
Okay Bernie, dont get bend out of shape, GOT IT!!
YOUR BOSSES ARE CUSTOMERS!! So, eventually you do have to JUMP??
Greetings!