Jalilabad district municipality of Babakhanli – A visit was paid to Jalilabad district municipality of Babakhanli in January, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. The goal of the visit was to compare the draft and approved budget of 2008. Despite the fact that two visits were made to Babakhanli mucipality of Jalilabad district, the meeting with the municipality head failed due to different reasons. It was revealed out that neither changes were made to the municipality budget, nor the municipality board was established. Therefore, the municipality head did not want to meet the ERC staff.
Jalilabad district municipality of Uzuntapa - In January, 2008 a visit was made to Jalilabad district municipality of Uzuntapa to conduct a monitoring. The goal of the visit was to compare the draft and approved budget of 2008. Although two visits were paid to Uzuntapa municipality of Jalilabad district, the meeting with the municipality head was failed due to different reasons. It was discovered that neither changes were made to the municipality budget, nor the municipality board was established. Therefore, the municipality head did not want to meet the ERC staff.
Jalilabad district municipality of Privolnoye – In spite of the fact that a visit was considered to be paid to Privolnoye municipality of Jalilabad district to conduct monitoring, the municipality head refused to cooperate. The reasons appeared to be the comments made to the municipality head during the budget hearing. Therefore, the municipality head refused to cooperate decidedly.
Lerik district municipality of Hovil – Though it was planned to make a visit to Leric district municipality of Hovil so as to conduct a monitoring, it failed due to unfavorable weather condition. However, the municipality head reported that the budget board was established and no changes were made to the budget.
Leric district municipality of Daster - Nevertheless a visit was planned to be paid to Leric district municipality of Daster to conduct a monitoring, it did not take place because of unfavorable weather condition. But the municipality head stated that the budget board was established and no changes were made to the budget.
Lerik district municipality of Molalan - Though it was planned to make a visit to Leric district municipality of Molalan to conduct a monitoring, it failed due to unfavorable weather condition.
Lerik district municipality of Bibiyoni– Although it was planned to pay a visit to Leric district municipality of Daster to conduct a monitoring, it did not take place because of unfavorable weather condition. But the municipality head stated that the budget board was established and no changes were made to the budget.
Monitoring results in North-West region
Kapanakchi - A meeting was held in Kapanakchi municipality of Zagatala district on January 22, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. Throughout monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. The budget revenues have gone up by 300 manat as compared to draft budget. It can be ascribed to increase of land tax by 400 manat, increase of land rental by 100 manat, and decrease of land sale by 200 manat. The municipality members stated that the difference was revealed after carrying out accurate calculations. Some changes took place with regard to the municipality budget expenditures. Maintenance of municipality has decreased by 2733 manat, health expenditures by 50 manat, social protection by 550 manat, culture and sport expenditures by 600 manat, utility expenditures by 983 manat and agricultural expenditures by 150 manat. The members of Kapanakchi municipality refused to establish budget board.
Yengiyan - A meeting was held in Zagatala district municipality of Yengiyan on January 22, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. No change took place in the budget revenues and functional expenditures. While in the economic expenditure item the procurement of goods were reduced by 224 manat and social allowances and other different expenditures by 271 manat and this was added on to the salary fund thus being 495 manat. Yengiyan municipality established the budget board. During the meeting the municipality members were recommended to improve the budget board.
Chobankol - A meeting was held in Zagatala district municipality of Chobankol on January 22, 2008 in order to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. The budget incomes went up by 6 805 manat as compared to the draft budget. The changes to the budget revenues can be attributed to increase of land sale from 5 175 manat to 15 000 manat, other expenditures from 575 manat to 1600 manat and decrease of land tax by 800 manat, property tax by 45 manat, land lease by 2450 manat and subsidy by 750 manat. All the expenditure items have gone up thanks to increase of municipality budget revenues. Muncipality maintenance has increased by 3 927 manat, education expenditures by 40 manat, social protection expenditures by 275 manat, culture and sport expenditures by 350 manat, utility expenditures by 1168 manat and agricultural expenditures by 45 manat. Though Chobankol municipality has not assigned funds for health expenditures in the draft budget, it has forecasted to spend 1 000 manat towards this direction in the final budget. Chobankol municipality has established a budget board satisfying all standards.
Zayam - A meeting was held in Zayam municipality of Zagatala district municipality on January 22, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. The budget revenues have gone up by 5490 manat as compared to the draft budget. This increase can be ascribed to rise of land tax by 2600 manat, property tax by 350 manat, and land rental by 200 manat, land sale inflows by 1 900 manat, subsidy 1 140 manat and decrease of other revenues by 700 manat. The expenditure items have gone up thanks to increase of municipality budget revenues. There was a change in the expedited items thanks to increase in municipality budget revenues. The municipality maintenance increased by 2 328 manat, education expenditures by 100 manat, social protection expenditures by 130 manat, agricultural expenditures by 2360 manat, while utility expenditures decreased by 928 manat and though funds were not assigned for culture and sport expenditures in the draft budget, 1500 manat was forecasted to be spent in this direction in the final budget. The members of Zayam municipality refused to establish budget board.
Yukhari Chardakhlar - A meeting was held in Zagatala district municipality of Yukhari Chardakhlar on January 22, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. No change took place in the budget revenues, however municipality maintenance reduced by 1 180 manat, utility costs by 429 manat in the functional expenditures. The agricultural expenditures rised by 1309 manat and funds estimated at 300 manat were allocated for sport and culture expenditures. The budget board of Yukhari Chardakhlar was established. During monitoring the municipality members were recommended to improve the board.
Zarna- A meeting was held in Gakh district municipality of Zarna on January 23, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. The budget revenues have increased by 1700 manat as compared to the draft budget. This increase can be ascribed to budget remainder for the early year. In the budget expenditures salary fund reduced by 260 manat, procurement of goods (services) increased by 400 manat and the all other funds were planned for cultural and life premises (500), administrative and management premises (1000), capital repair of roads (500) and other capital repairs (150). Zarna municipality has established the budget board. The municipality members were recommended to eliminate technical drawbacks in the establishment of the budget board.
Ləkit- A meeting was held in Gakh district municipality of Lakit on January 23, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. Changes did not take place in the forecast budget revenues and expenditures. Lakit municipality has established the budget board.
Jalayir- A meeting was held in Gakh district municipality of Jalayir on January 23, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. The budget revenues increased by 228 manat as compared to the draft budget. The changes in the budget revenues can be due to the decrease of tax revenues by 855 manat, budget remainder from the last year by 817 manat, increase of rental fees by 800 manat, dotation by 100 manat and allocation of 1000 manat for other revenues. The salary fund decreased by 61 manat, procurement of goods (services) by 1605 manat, capital repair of administrative premises increased by 1500 manat, capital repair of roads by 820 manat, 2 404 manat was assigned for the other expenditures, pensions and social allowances (2120 manats) were reduced in the budget expenditures. Jalair municipality has established the budget board and placed budget information in the board.
Ambarchay- A meeting was held in Gakh district municipality of Ambarchay on January 23, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. The tax revenues decreased by 5081 manat, non-tax revenues by 574 manat, land sale increased by 5100 manat and land rental by 555 manat. The salary fund increased by 1076 manat and procurement of goods (services) reduced by 1886 manat in the budget revenues. The remaining 810 manats was assigned for capital cost relating items. Ambarchay municipality members refused to establish budget board.
Tasmalı- A meeting was held in Gakh district municipality of Tasmali on January 23, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. The budget revenues increased by 7542 manats as compared to the draft budget. The changes can be attributable to increase of land sale by 2000 manats and forecasted 5000 manats from grants, 542 manats from fines and sanctions. Maintenance costs of municipalities increased by 1530 manat and utility costs by 6012 manats in the budget expenditures. Tasmali municipality has established the budget board. Besides, 3 smaller budget boards have been established and placed in different places of the village.
Kish- A meeting was held in Shaki district municipality of Kish on January 24, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. The budget revenues increased by 106 manats as compared to the draft budget. It can be ascribed to increase of land rental. In the budget expenditures the salary fund increased by 900 manats, state social protection fund by 198 manats, pensions and social allowances by 10 manats, whereas procurement of goods (services) decreased by 1075 manats. Other expenditures are forecasted in the amount of 73 manats. The budget board was established in Kish municipality in 2006.
Gokhmukh- A meeting was held in Shaki district municipality of Gokhmukh on January 24, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. The budget revenues increased by 6900 manats as compared to the draft budget. The changes can be attributable to decrease of land tax by 1000 manats and increase of land rental by 1000 manats, land sale by 6500 manats and subsidy by 400 manats. The maintenance of municipality increased by 3300 manats, education expenditures by 600 manats, social protection and assistance expenditures by 1000 manats, agricultural expenditures by 3000 manats and utility costs decreased by 400 manats at the cost of reduction of health (200 manat) and culture (400 manats) expenditures. Gokhmukh municipality has established the budget board. The municipality members were recommended to improve the board during the meeting.
Magov- A meeting was held in Zagatala district municipality of Magov on February 6, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. Changes were not recorded for budget revenues of Magov municipality. The salary fund increased by 3598 manats, while procurement of goods (services) decreased by 2070 manats and other expenditures by 1528 manats in the budget expenditures. Magov municipality refused to establish the budget board.
Danachi- A meeting was held in Zagatala district municipality of Danachi on February 6, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. There were changes in some municipality revenue items. Tax revenues decreased by 10100 manats, and other expenditures enhanced due to increase of land sale by 7000 manats and subsidy by 3100 manats. The basic changes were recorded for other expenditures in the budget expenditures which were previously intended for the construction of the sport complex. Additional 20 000 manats allocated for the other expenditures can be ascribed to decrease of funds allotted for salary fund and rehabilitation services. Danachi municipaliy established the budget board in 2005.
Pushtatala- A meeting was held in Balaken district municipality of Pushtatala on February 7 and 29, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. Changes were not recorded for forecast budget revenues and expenditures. Pushtatala municipality has established the budget board. All budget information is included in the budget board.
Ititala- A meeting was held in Balaken district municipality of Ititala on February 7 and 29, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. There were not changes in the forecast budget revenues. The salary fund increased by 120 manats, whereas health expenditures decreased by 90 manats and road repair by 930 manats. Additional 800 manats was included into renovation costs, while 100 manats into pensins and social allowances. Pushtatala municipality has established the budget board. However, some budget documents were not placed in the board fully. The municipality members were recommended in this respect.
Kortala- A meeting was held in Balaken district municipality of Kortala on February 7 and 29, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared. There were not changes in the forecast budget revenues and expenditures. Kortala municipality has established the budget board..
Gum- A meeting was held in Gakh district municipality of Gum on February 7 and 29, 2008 to conduct a monitoring. During monitoring the draft and approved budget of 2008 were compared.
There were not changes in the budget revenues. The maintenance of municipality expenditures decreased by 318 manats, utility expenditures increased by 8790 manats, other expenditures by 273 manats, and social protection and social security expenditures by 980 manats. The increase in expenditures was at the cost of budget remainder amounting to 9725 manats from the last year. Gum municipality established the budget board and placed budget information in the board
Conclusion
Apart from Kortala, Pushtatala and Lakit municipalities, the budget of all partner municipalities underwent changes as compared to the previous budgets. In view of the analysis conducted during the monitoring it can be mentioned that one part of suggestions made by the citizens at the public hearings was reflected in the approved budget of most municipalities. That is, allocation of funds for health expenditures raised in Chobankol municipality and determining concrete address of renovation expenditures, increase of agricultural expenditures in Zayam and Yukhari Chardakhlar, installation of water pipelines to the village cementry in Jalayir municipality, bulding sport complex in Danachi municipality, spending capital costs on building water pipelines in Pushtatala municipality, spending funds allocated for buying vehicle for the municipality on the capital repair of the kindergarten in Ititala municipality were included in the budget thanks to the suggestions made by the citizens. As a result of the analysis, the salary expenditures were observed to enhance in most budgets which is ascribed to minimum salary increase in the country. The municipalities with changes in their revenues related these increases to accurate calculation of taxes and increase of demand for land sale. Regarding this issue we can say that most municipality heads stated that they made these accurate calculations after the training held for them. During the monitoring the head of Tasmali municipality stated that as a result of paid tax by 9 problematic tax payers out of 13 mentioned in the public hearings, 2 115 manats of 2752 manats was paid. Besides, most municipality members (Pushtatala, Gum, Zarna, Gokhmukh, Danachi) reported the citizens’changing their minds about them after the hearing. That is, when the citizens address to them for solution of any problem, they are informed that budget information is placed in the budget boards. When the addressing citizens ask why their problem is not included in the budget, the municipality members say that they adopted the budget together with the village citizens at the public hearing.
A survey was conducted in 38 municipalities during the monitoring. Here are the results:
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All the municipality heads answered “yes” to the question “In your opinion, did the budget hearing held the previous year had an impact on people’s activity?”.
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All the municipality heads answered “yes” to the question “In your opinion, could the village population have detailed information on the next year budget during the hearing?”.
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All the municipality heads answered “yes” to the question “Did the public hearing contribute to the drafting of the budget in accordance with the people’s expectations?” .
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All the municipality heads answered “yes” to the question “Did the hearing have a role in citizens’ activity?”.
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All the municipality heads answered “yes” to the question “Do you plan to hold budget hearings in the next years?”.
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35 municipality heads answered “increased”, 1 “decreased” and two “no changes” to the question “Did the change take place in the taxes and payments after the hearing?”
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33 municipality heads answered “yes”, 1 “no” and 4 “relatively” to the question “Did people start to apply to you more in the wake of the public hearing?”. Regarding the increase in the number of appeals, 12 people reported “increased tax payments”, while 21 people reported “receipt of opinions and suggestions”.
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