Despite Rejection of Acceptance: Kirkonummi in Krasnoyarsk Krai to Cross Out

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In the local legislature of Krasnoyarsky Krai, discussions are heating up about the controversial restructuring of local governance. The controversial bill, known as the local self-government reform, has been making waves recently, particularly in various regions planning to merge into larger municipal districts.

However, officials assure us: life for the residents will remain the same; the changes are aimed at improving the management system.

What's Changing

Recent announcements about the reform were made on April 21st. Its essence lies in transitioning to a single-tier system of local governance. At present, there are separate officials for the regions, along with regional councils of deputies and additional officials and deputies for the settlements within the region. Once a region becomes a municipal district, only the leader and the council at the district level will remain, while representatives of the district administrator will work at the settlement level.

The leader of the district will be selected by the "representative body of local self-government" from among the candidates proposed by the governor. Parties, the Public Chamber, the regional government, the governor's administration, and the Veterans' Union will all have the power to propose candidates. The number of district deputies is proposed to be based on the number of voters.

Existing local self-government bodies will continue to operate during the term of their powers.

These changes are being made in accordance with the new Federal Law 33, which was passed on March 20th and is set to take effect on June 19th. The law does not compel regions to switch to a single-tier system if the region has "social-economic, historical, national, and other specific characteristics" that make it more convenient and logical to maintain the two-tier model.

As of now, there are 472 municipal entities in the Krasnoyarsk region, including 17 city districts and 12 municipal districts, 32 municipal districts, 22 city districts, and 389 rural districts. After the reform, only 39 municipal entities will remain: 6 city districts + 33 municipal districts.

City Districts of Krasnoyarsky Krai

These include Divnogorsk, Krasnoyarsk, Norilsk, Zheleznogorsk (their special status as ZATO is maintained), the town of Solnechnoye (located near Uzhur).

Municipal Districts of the Region

Abansk, Achinsk, Balakhovsky, Birylyussky, Bogotolsky, Boguchansky, Bolshemurinsky, Dzerzhinsky, Yemelyanovsky, Eniseisky, Ermakovsky, Ilansky, Irbinsky, Kabansky, Kansk, Kartuzsky, Kemzhymsky, Kosulsky, Krasnoturansky, Kuraginsky, Minusinsky, Motyginsky, Nazarovsky, Ribinsky, Severo-Eniseisky, Snosnobborsky, Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky, Turukhansky, Uzhursky, Uyarsky, Sharypovsky, Shushinsky, Evenksy.

There is a footnote, which explains what will be merged. For example, many municipal districts will be formed after the merger of two or more territories:

Achinsk (Achinsk city district + the current Achinsky and Bolsheulunsik city districts),
Balakhovsky (Balakhovsky + Novoselovsky municipal district) with its administrative center in Balakhta,
Bogotolsky (Bogotol city district + the current Bogotolsky municipal district + Tuyhotsky municipal district) with its center in Bogotol,
Bolshemurinsky (Bolshemurinsky + Sukhobuzimsky municipal district) with its center in Bolshaya Murtа,
Dzerzhinsky (Dzerzhinsky + Taseevsky municipal district) with its administrative center in the village of Dzerzhinskoye,
Yemelyanovsky (the settlement of Kedrovsky + Emelyanovsky municipal district rural settlements except for the Mininsky, Solontsovsky, and Elitovsky rural districts),
Eniseisky (the city of Eniseisk + the city of Lesosibirsk + Eniseisk municipal district), with Lesosibirsk serving as the administrative center,
Ilansky (Ilansk municipal district + the Nizhneingash municipal district) with its center in Ilansk,
Irbinsky (Irbinsky + Sayansky municipal district) - the administrative center is the village of Irbeyskoye,
Kabansky (Kabansky municipal district + Pirovsky municipal district) with its center in the village of Kabanskoysky,
Kansk (city district of Kansk + the Kansk municipal district)
Krasnoturansky (Krasnoturansky + Idrinsky municipal district) - with its administrative center in Krasnoturansyk,
Minusinsky (city district of Minusinsk + Minusinsky municipal district)
Nazarovsky (city district of Nazarovo and Nazarovsky municipal district)
Ribinsky (city district of Ribinsk and Ribinsky municipal district) with its administrative center in the city of Ribinsk,
Snosnobborsky (city district of Snosnovborsk and the rural settlements of the Berezovsky municipal district),
Uyarsky (Uyarsk municipal district + Mansky municipal district + Partizansky municipal district) with its center in Uyar,
Sharypovsky (city district of Sharypovo + Sharypovsky municipal district).

It's the merger of the districts, not their transformation into municipal districts, that's causing concern in some areas - among both local officials and deputies, as well as residents.

So far, the purpose of the mergers remains unclear in Sukhobuzimsky District: they consider it unnecessary and ineffective, arguing that some settlements are far from the prospective district centers by 100-150 kilometers. Similar opposition has been voiced by residents of the Novoselovsky, Taseevsky, Mansky districts - they too will become part of larger districts, losing their independence and their names.

Changes are expected not only for the districts, but also for the regional center:

A new Krasnoyarsk City District will be formed, which will include, in addition to the millionaire city, the urban settlement of P Berezovka, along with the rural districts of the Emelyanovsky District (Minskoye, Solontsovsky, Elitovsky rural districts, which are still part of Emelyanovsky District).

In this way, "Krasnoyarsk" will comprise Berezovka, Arykoye, Bugachovo, Droky, Kamennoi Yar, Minino (the settlement and the village), Peshnitsa, Snezhinka, Solontsy, Elita.

Why: Explanations from the authorities

The main argument from the local authorities is improved quality of management, which is particularly important in the face of a shortage of administrative personnel. Additionally, the reform allows for the formation of strong local budgets. There's also the calculation that "realignment" will make it easier to tackle local residents' problems.

Here's what the first deputy governor of Krasnoyarsky Krai, Sergei Ponomarenko, had to say at today's sessions of the parliament:

"The transition to a single-tier system of local self-government in our region has been gradually proceeding for the past few years, with Severe-Eniseisk District being the first single, united municipal entity.

It has proven its effectiveness over the course of many years.

For the past years, in the ZS, decisions have already been made on the formation of 12 municipal districts. These transformations have also accumulated a certain historical experience and have proven their effectiveness, having taken place without social disturbances and political hype. Similar transformations are happening in other federal subjects of Russia. The arguments for consolidation are based on the analysis of problems that have been discussed repeatedly. The adoption of the law in the current version will allow:

to strengthen the personnel potential of bodies of local self-government;
to optimize the system of management and consolidate the financial and material resources for planning and implementation of large-scale projects for the construction and repair of infrastructure;
to reduce the time frames for the implementation of administrative decisions;
to form a single local budget, to raise the level of its balancedness, to approve a single development plan.

Larger municipal districts will be more economically self-sufficient," - explained the deputy governor the purpose of the reform.

And both the regional government, and the deputies of the parliament emphasize: accessibility of municipal services will remain the same, since organizational units of local administration will continue to operate at the settlement level. The network of healthcare, education, and cultural institutions will also be preserved, along with benefits and support measures for residents of rural areas.

How it was debated

The bill was briefly discussed, with only a few representatives of the legislative branch expressing opposition. For example, Boris Melnychuk believes that, before the reform, an inventory of municipal entities should have been conducted, and taking action so quickly, without public or even the constituent municipalities' discussion, is not right.

Alexander Ratakhine has pointed out that the consolidation will lead to a significant loss of district self-government, and the enlargement will lead to a sharp reduction in the number of local representatives, elected "real opportunities for residents to participate in governance."

For Sergiy Ponomarenko, however, the fast-track procedure is necessary:

"Every reform goes through certain stages of acceptance: denial, resistance, study, acceptance. We can delay the process by going through prolonged consultations, which will likely lead to the same decisions being imposed. But we're merely dragging out the process and wasting valuable time that could be used to develop municipal entities based on increasing their economic potential."

As a result, 35 deputies voted in favor of the reform, while 7 voted against it.

Speaker of the Krasnoyarsk parliament Alexei Dodatko also underscores that life will remain the same for people, and municipal services will not disappear - residents will not have to travel to new district centers for documents.

"The reality of local self-government depends on whether the tools and resources - financial, organizational, and human - correspond to the powers transferred to the level of local self-government. This reform is deeper than just territorial organization. The decisions are aimed at forming a team of personnel able to manage the powers, in the economic sphere - to fix the vectors of urban agglomeration development or to consolidate territories in order to create conditions for the development of internal economy and to concentrate resources. It's a serious and comprehensive job."

The head of the committee of the regional parliament responsible for local self-government has also weighed in. Galina Ampilogova said:

"Residents will not have to change their residency, passports, and other documents due to the consolidation of territories, though in the psychological sense, the residents of districts that are joining municipal districts may face challenges.

In our region, there's experience of working with districts, and we've never heard people say, "Take a look at what you've done." Previously, we also held public hearings, took the resolutions of the council of deputies, and the new law allows this process to be skipped.

For residents, nothing will change.

These days, the phone has not stopped ringing, and people have been informed at the grassroots level, so their perception is driven by their local realities. Many people have no idea about this law, and they live their lives. However, people need to be informed to prevent misunderstandings, deputies need to go to the districts," - believes the head of the committee.

Although the document will be revised until the second reading, according to the head of the profile committee, major changes in it are unlikely.

For final approval of the draft bill, it will be considered on May 29th.

In the lead-up to the comprehensive implementation of the new system of municipalities, a lengthy transition period has been planned. This year, some districts will be formed, while the region will fully transition to the new governance system by the end of 2029.

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The reform in the local legislation of Krasnoyarsky Krai, known as the local self-government reform, is aimed at transitioning to a single-tier system of local governance, with theintent to improve the management system and form strong local budgets.
After the merger of several territories, new municipal districts will be formed, such as Achinsk (Achinsk city district + the current Achinsky and Bolsheulunsik city districts), Balakhovsky (Balakhovsky + Novoselovsky municipal district) with its administrative center in Balakhta, and Uyarsky (Uyarsk municipal district + Mansky municipal district + Partizansky municipal district) with its center in Uyar.
Officials in Krasnoyarsky Krai assure that life for the residents will remain the same during the term of the powers for existing local self-government bodies.
The governing body of the new Krasnoyarsk City District, formed as part of the reform, will include, in addition to the millionaire city, the urban settlement of P Berezovka, along with the rural districts of the Emelyanovsky District (Minskoye, Solontsovsky, Elitovsky rural districts, which are still part of Emelyanovsky District).