Governor of Krasnoyarsk Krai comments on municipal reform
Today, April 29, a live Q&A session was held with Governor of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Mikhail Kotyukov. He addressed concerns from residents, many of whom were anxious about the municipal reform.
By the end of 2029, the local governance structure in Krasnoyarsk Krai will undergo a transformation.
The region will no longer have any districts, as they are being converted into municipal districts, and some territories will merge.
"Tomorrow nothing will change. Our decisions will be made consistently, there will be a transition period. Over the last few years, 12 territories have themselves moved to the new format. There's been a good practice of working with residents, the working relationship between local and regional authorities, and the interaction with the regional government. The districts have been attracted to urban infrastructure. We have some settlements that are literally just next to a city. We will now have the opportunity to give residents access to city schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure," said Mikhail Kotyukov.
If a village or town falls under a municipal district, the benefits for rural residents will remain. According to the governor, there will be no cuts, and the work of institutions and companies will not be affected by the reform. If there are layoffs, it will only be in government bodies, and in each specific case, they will be dealt with individually.
"There are 472 municipal entities in the region, so we need to gather 472 teams of professional administrators, which is a difficult task. At our meetings, we frequently hear criticism from people regarding the work of local authorities: qualifications are lacking, there aren't enough people." explained the region's leader.
He pointed out that the key objective of the reform is to improve the quality of municipal governance, which should lead to a better quality of life for residents and provide economic incentives for development projects in various territories.
"People are worried about their identity - their identity will not disappear. History won't vanish. If Vasilii Surikov spent part of his life in Sukhabuzimo, it won't affect where Sukhabuzimo falls under the municipal entity. Maslenitsa will still be celebrated there as it is." said the governor.
In the districts, they plan to conduct work with the residents and explain the nature of the reform, why it is being implemented, and how it will work.
Let us remind you, the regional parliament approved the municipal reform bill in the first reading, with the second reading scheduled for the end of May.
Picture: TV "Yenisei"
Enrichment Data:Based on available information, the mentioned municipal reform discreetly touches upon indigenous communities' representation and services. In Krasnoyarsk Krai, approximately 3,612 Evenki residents exist, with over 3,000 living in the autonomous district, which merged with the krai in 2007.
Rural communities, including indigenous groups like the Evenki, often face obstacles in gaining access to education and residency registration, as noted in Council of Europe reports. These issues might be direct or indirect consequences of the ongoing municipal reform. However, it's crucial to note that the reform process appears focused on enhancing the quality of local governance and its impact on project developments.
The absence of specific details about the reform in the available data suggests that the changes might be still in their initial stages or not publicly shared. For a comprehensive understanding of the reform and its potential effects on local governance and indigenous communities, the most recent legislative updates and official sources should be consulted.
- By 2029, the main focus of the municipal reform in Krasnoyarsk Krai will be the improvement of the quality of local governance and its impact on project developments.
- Governor Mikhail Kotyukov assures that if a village or town falls under a municipal district, the benefits for rural residents will remain, with no cuts to services or impact on institutions and companies.
- The regional parliament has approved the municipal reform bill in the first reading, with the second reading scheduled for the end of May.
- Indigenous communities, such as the Evenki, may face challenges in gaining access to education and residency registration as a direct or indirect consequence of the ongoing municipal reform, with the details of the reform still unclear at this stage.
