The NALAS Task Force on Fiscal Decentralization consists of regional experts in local and intergovernmental finances representing member associations. The host association for this Task Force is the National Association of Local Governments of Bulgaria (web site).
Some of the projects implemented in this area are: How to Lead Successful Budget Negotiations, Municipal Borrowing in South East Europe, Improvement of Local Property Tax Administration in South East Europe and Cost Estimation of Municipal Services of South East Europe.
The NALAS Task Forces meet four times a year, or more often if needed. Information
for each meeting is also displayed on this page.
Fiscal Decentralisation Task Force Meeting in Ljubljana, 11-12 July 2011
NALAS Task Force on Fiscal Decentralisation met in Ljubljana 11-12 July to hold conceptual discussions on the role and interests of the TF in the next several years.
The members agreed to work on producing periodical overview of intergovernmental finances in South East Europe by analyzing several comparative indicators like local government expenditures as a % of the GDP and total public expenditures, capital expenditures at local level as a % of the GDP and public expenditures in each country of the region, local government revenues by structure, etc.
The TF members made thorrow insights in the topics of non-tax revenues, intergovernmental finance negotiations, multiyear planning and budgeting. These areas of local finances will be among the priority topics of the Task Force in the next years.
An important aspect of the meeting was brainstorming about new forms of products, new ways of their dissemination as well as new ways of interaction of the Task Force. A special attention was set on reaching the municipal level as close as possible and therefore increasing the impact of the TF activities.
Available downloads:
Meeting Agenda
Meeting Report
Presentation by Mr Tony Levitas
List of participants
Fiscal Decentralization Task Force Meeting in Sofia, 14-15 December 2010
The main pillars of this meeting hosted by NAMRB were: a) exchange of updates between the members on the current issues in fiscal decentralization in their countries; b) update on the progress of the project on Municipal Borrowing and promotion of the capacity building component and c) further development of the project ideas selected and prioritized at the meeting in Skopje: Non-tax Revenues, Multiannual and Participatory Budgeting and Budget negotiations II.
Fiscal Decentralization Task Force Meeting in Skopje, 28-29 June 2010
The NALAS Task Force on Fiscal Decentralization meeting took place in Skopje, Macedonia on 28-29 June. The main topic on the meeting’s agenda was the presentation and discussion of the NALAS Final Report on Developing a Municipal Finance Database in South Eastern Europe: the Preparatory Phase. During the meeting, the report was improved with the input of the participants and two ideas for follow-up phases were developed. Also, other three new projects ideas on different topics related with the most pressing issues in NALAS countries were selected from a bigger number of ideas to be further developed by the experts/associations that took commitment to write the first draft of the projects.
Fiscal Decentralization Task Force meeting in Pomorie, 5-7 June
The fifth meeting of the NALAS Task Force on Fiscal Decentralization was held on 5-7 June in Pomorie, Bulgaria, in the framework of the XI National meeting of the finance officers from Bulgarian municipalities „The Municipal Finance – Expectations, Real Situations and Problems”. Municipal financial experts from 8 member associations participated at the event. The Task Force members assisted to the plenary sessions of the annual gathering of the Bulgarian Municipal Finance Officers, and had a chance to hear more about the experiences of the Bulgarian colleagues. The main discussions were held on the topic of implementation of the municipal budgets during the 2007 and tendencies for 2008, as well as on the practical impacts of new tax powers of the municipalities during the 2008.
Event website
Fiscal Decentralization Task Force Meeting in Sarajevo, 7-8 April 2008
The fourth meeting of the NALAS Task Force on Fiscal Decentralization was held on 7-8 April in Sarajevo. Municipal financial experts from 10 member associations participated at the event. The purpose of the meeting was to present and discuss the first results of the NALAS projects in the field of fiscal decentralization, as well as to develop and review new project ideas to be submitted for funding. Event website
Fiscal Decentralization Task Force meeting in Sofia, 15-16 November 2007
The second meeting of the Task Force on Fiscal Decentralization took place in Sofia on 15 and 16 November, 2007. It was hosted by the National Association of Bulgarian Municipalities (NAMRB). The purpose of the meeting was to decide about the presentation of the Task Force at the NALAS General Assembly on December 13 and 14, to present current situation in the fields of budget negotiations and fiscal decentralization in the respective countries, as well as to agree on the next steps in the implementation of 2 projects developed by the Task Force: Budget Negotiations and Municipal Cost Estimation. Full report | Photos