site.bta Sofia Budget in 2017 at Lv 1.27 Bln

Sofia Budget in 2017 at Lv 1.27 Bln

Pravets, Western Bulgaria, December 19 (BTA) - Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova on Monday said that Sofia municipal budget in 2017 is 1,275 million leva. The town hall has budgeted 612.5 million leva in own revenues. Capital expenditures are set at 397. 34 million leva. Of these, 275 million leva will be tapped under EU-backed programmes. Fandakova presented Sofia's governance programme and draft budget for 2014 at a seminar in Pravets.

The Mayor said that local taxes and fees won't be increased. The Sofia town hall will continue to make investments in transport and educational infrastructure, upgrading public transport and the development of the metro network. In 2017, there are plans to renovate streets in residential areas, spaces between residential buildings and develop the network of bicycle lanes. The main priority will continue to be Sofia's development as a green city through improving air quality.

Innovations and the use of new technology for resolving some of the city's key issues will be in the focus of the town hall policy in 2017, said Fandakova.

Next year, the construction of the third metro diameter will continue along with the modernization of the public transport. Under the Operational Programme for Regional Development 11 new trams will be purchased, along with 30 new buses.

Two central streets, Graf Ignatiev street and Dondukov Boulevard will be renovated, and the tram tracks, water piping and the pavement surfaces will be replaced on funding from the OP Regions in Growth and co-financing by the Sofia Municipality.