site.btaMunicipal Company Remuneration Decided by Mayors, Says Ministry of Finance

The Ministry of Finance does not finance salaries of employees in municipal and private companies, it is responsible for activities specified in the 2025 State Budget Act, the Road Traffic Act and the Regulation on the terms and procedures for providing funds for compensations and subsidies, the Ministry of Finance stated in а position regarding inquiries received from the media. On Monday, road transport employees held a national protest for an increase in remuneration.

The mayors of the municipalities are responsible for managing the funds provided to them under the Regulation for exercising control over the concluded contracts for public passenger transport and for observing budgetary discipline in accordance with the Public Finance Act. It is within the powers of each mayor to determine the amount of remuneration and financing of expenses, as well as the financial management of the funds of the managed municipal companies and the activities in them, the Ministry of Finance also said.

In 2025 State Budget Act, adopted by the National Assembly in March, the total funds estimated for subsidies and compensations were BGN 522.3 million, with an increase of BGN 106.5 million compared to 2024, the position reads. These funds include BGN 106 million provided for subsidies for Sofia Municipality for intra-city transport, or an increase of BGN 17 million compared to 2024. A total of BGN 122 million has been provided for subsidies for passenger transport on unprofitable bus lines in intra-city and transport in mountainous and other areas in all other municipalities apart from Sofia Municipality, or an increase of BGN 23 million compared to 2024. A total of BGN 294.3 million have been provided for compensation of reduced travel prices for all municipalities, including for transport of children and students, , which represents an increase of BGN 66.5 million compared to  2024, the Ministry of Finance indicated.

All municipalities are to adopt their budgets for 2025 in April and May, in accordance with the procedure under the Public Finance Act. It is within the powers of the mayor of the respective municipality to take the necessary actions to finance all types of activities on the territory of the municipality for 2025.