Bratislava: Local Gov't Representatives Raise Several Issues at Cabinet Session

Bratislava, 14 January (TASR) - Local government representatives raised several issues affecting Bratislava and the surrounding area at a meeting with Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and ministers during the government session in the Bratislava borough of Petrzalka on Wednesday. The topics concerned transport infrastructure, education, culture and security. The representatives described the dialogue as constructive and factual and the atmosphere in the meeting room as civilised and non-confrontational, without political emotions. "The negotiations were factual," said Bratislava self-governing region head Juraj Droba, adding that the approved funds cover the most urgent minor needs of individual areas, including projects in city boroughs, the region and the capital. Bratislava mayor Matus Vallo raised several issues at the meeting that are important from the perspective of the capital city and which local authorities have been dealing with for a long time. These included, for example, the possibility of reconstructing the main railway station, which, according to Vallo, has long been ignored by the state, and the issue of bridges. He noted, among other things, that "basically the whole of Slovakia drives" over the SNP Bridge, but it is the capital city that takes care of it. Mayor of the Bratislava borough of Ruzinov Martin Chren mentioned the issue of schools, for which some municipalities, such as Senec, need financial assistance from the state. He also raised the topic of property tax, specifically the possibility of changing and increasing the tax rate for additional floors in business centres and commercial buildings, which has remained unchanged for decades. "We can't do this because the rate is specified directly in the law. We're asking the government not to do this for us, but to allow us to decide for ourselves. This will help us and enable us to ask for less money from the government," stated Chren. am/df