Общински сесии

A long but unsuccessful session was held by the Municipal Council on May 18. The only item on the agenda was a report of the commercial companies with municipal participation. 12 out of 15 provided their accounts and balance sheets for 2004. and it was seen that 8 of them (i.e. 66%) ended in loss. This alarming fact was highlighted by the chairwoman of the Committee on Economy Boryana Belukhova, who asked for serious control by the elected representatives of the municipality and after analysis to see which companies to give another chance and which to take cardinal measures. The advisors tried to make a framework with financial criteria by which to assess the activities of individual companies and to identify measures. But this turned out to be only a good wish, which was ruined by the lack of official reports on the current state of the companies, by discrepancies in the accounting data, by the absence of representatives of many of the companies. The municipal councilors elected as controllers in the companies declared that they were not invited to meetings and did not have up-to-date data on the municipal share or the investment intentions of the companies. And the situation in the companies with municipal participation remained, as so far, a "hidden picture" (in the expression of Georgi Mihaylov).
For the longest time, the councilors discussed Parkings and Garages Ltd., worried about a decision by the District Court to increase the company's capital from BGN 446,000 to BGN 1,891,170. A definite answer to the question whether in this situation the municipality retains its 34% was not given. Ivan Rangelov from "Parkings and Garages" accused the Municipal Council that instead of being interested in the problems of business, it hinders with its inaction. The councillor Toma Pachalov suggested that tax and state financial control should enter the company. Ekaterina Kaferinova, however, reminded that the Municipal Council does not have the authority to check company accounts and that instead of helping those who have done something, the councillors will look under the ox for a calf. An even more serious dispute broke out about "Horos" - the company that would have built the Cultural House and around whose registration and current status is also "dark" according to Recep Sijim. He suggested that the contract with "Horos" be broken, with which N. Kehayov on the grounds that they do not want to spoil partnerships, but transparent relations with business. To overcome the obstacles to investors from "Horos" (lack of a construction permit from the municipality) campaigned Ek. Kaferinova and Dr. Tsvetan Dafov. According to Venko Bozev, however, the company is "hollow", the capital has been increased several times, the last contract with the municipality has been signed by a mayor who was not in that position at the time, etc. The discussion shifted to the level of political rhetoric, which will sound more and more often until the parliamentary elections. In the end, the proposal to terminate the contract was not supported, although the previous day the Public Order Commission united around it. With regard to Sutka 2000 AD, it was decided to adopt a new vision for the ski center project, but Rakitovo municipality is working very seriously with stable investors there and could soon start implementing the project only.
The councillors did not accept the report and balance sheet of any of the municipal participation companies. The same was repeated after the break in terms of 100% municipal companies. The managers of "MHAT" and "VKTV" were outraged that because of the lack of advisers suffered the procedure of accepting the reports. But advisers were also in the position that firms have many gaps to remedy. The hospital was commissioned to reevaluate its assets and submit a 5-year development and investment programme. A concept is also waiting from the manager of Markets and Markets, and from Sports Properties and Beaches until May 31 a rehabilitation program and bills for the most urgent needs. It was a hot debate again around VKTV. I am categorically against that the financial condition of the company (loss of 71,000 leva for 2004) is the fault of the previous management, said the former managing director of VKTV and current councilor Atanaska Hrischeva. She stressed that the completed audit was completed without any act of financial misconduct against her. For a whole year Chryscheva was crucified as a criminal, but Vidov day came and it was seen that the accusations of the so-called An initiative committee does not respond to the truth, but undermines the prestige of a municipal councilor, Ek said. Cafferina. The dispute will continue on May 31, when the Municipal Council will consider in detail the audit report for VKTV. The municipal enterprise Information Center for Small and Medium Business was subjected to serious criticism. The revenues are only BGN 10,000 and the expenses for the salaries of 8 female employees alone are about BGN 40,000. The municipality cannot afford to pay 10,000 leva for one Xerox, Al said. Daskalov. Nadezhda Klyuchkova was also adamant that the structure is not working and should be closed or people should be appointed to develop and win projects. The attempt to bring to light the state of the companies with municipal participation did not prove particularly effective. It was decided for each company to make a separate folder with all decisions voted by the Municipal Council plus current status by the court. This may bring more clarity, but the advisors convinced themselves that the much heavier and more important task is not just to control, but to build a vision for the future of these companies.
Elena Baeva