Sofia mayor warns of budget gaps for city transport, metro

ByEnigma 808

Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev criticized the proposed 2026 national budget on Monday for lacking transparency regarding capital city allocations, warning that unclear funding mechanisms could transform fiscal policy into political leverage rather than a development tool. While acknowledging increased appropriations of approximately 90 million euros for educational institutions and delegated programs, plus 1.5 million euros for infrastructure projects, Terziev highlighted the absence of designated subsidies for public transportation systems that received 121 million leva in 2025.

The municipal leader expressed concern about undisclosed metropolitan railway expansion funding, noting previous annual allocations reached 40 million leva, and questioned financing arrangements through the Bulgarian Development Bank that may require municipalities to service debt. Terziev emphasized that Sofia has collected only 237,000 leva this year despite submitting payment requests totaling 35 million leva for 156 approved initiatives with 10 executed contracts.

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    Besides writing and being a content creator, Enigma 808 sometimes likes to watch paint dry on walls, listening to ASMR while timing snails racing. Such is life.