MAYOR INSTITUTION IN THE LOCAL INTEGRITY SYSTEM

The mayor is a central figure in the implementation of public policies for the community. The mayoral institution’s potential to have an impact on the development of a Local Integrity System was assessed using a set of 21 indicators, distributed with a preponderance of two dimensions – role and internal governance practices.

The total index score of the mayoral institution was 3.57 points on a 5-point scale. Thus, it ranked third in the overall picture of the Local Integrity System in 2015.

Capacity of the mayoral institution

The country average score for this dimension was 3.63. The study of the mayoral institution’s capacity was based on an assessment of its ability to implement a clear managerial vision and to mobilize the necessary means and resources to ensure the community’s development.

The study finds that practices meeting the leading standards concerning the development and implementation of strategies for attracting and transparently managing public resources were observed in the operations of just one fifth of all mayors during the 2011-2015 term of office, although all municipalities under study scored above average.

Role of the mayoral institution

The country average score for this dimension was 3.20. The study of the mayoral institution’s role was based on an assessment of governance of the local administration; control over public service providers; and interaction with local business.

The study shows that attracting competent employees through transparent and competitive selection procedures is not yet an established sustainable practice in the municipalities studied. Most of the information on the competitions for municipal jobs (e.g., shortlisted candidates, selection committee meeting minutes, and, in some municipalities, even vacancy notices) remains non-accessible to the public. Control over public service providers indicator was weak, scoring overall just 2.87 points country-wide. The interaction with local businesses should be based not only on clear and transparent rules, but also on a sustainable practice of consultation on community priorities for competitive and attractive business environment development. The country average score for this indicator was 3.27 points. The example of a good practice in interacting with local business has been drawn from the practice of the mayor and the municipal council of Ruse. They have adopted, with the active involvement of local trade associations, an Investment and City Marketing Strategy. The mayoral teams of the municipalities of Varna, Vidin, and Targovishte earned the lowest scores under this indicator.

Governance of the mayoral institution

The country average score for this dimension was 3.48.

Here three key aspects of governance were assessed: budget transparency and transparency in the budgetary procedure, accountability, and integrity in the work of the mayoral team.

The transparency in the budgetary procedure indicator earned the highest score of 4.1 points. It could also be deemed a nearly sustainable standard in view of the statutory obligations in this regard. The mayors of all municipalities organize public discussions on the draft annual budget, albeit with some degree of deviation from the general rule of efficiency.

The efficiency of the mayoral teams’ accountability practices was assessed with regard to their reports on the implementation of the municipal councils’ decisions and on the implementation of their management programs, as well as with regard to their regular reporting to the public using innovative forms and methods of communication. The average point score for this indicator was 3.60 and still needs improvement.

What the mayoral institution’s contribution to the Local Integrity System lacks most are initiatives to enhance integrity in its own work. This indicator earned the lowest average score among all the indicators studied – just 2.74 points. The study found that the management teams had little interest and commitment in promoting focused policies aimed at preventing corruption.