Over 5 million bulgarian leva are provided for capital expenditure in the draft budget of Stara Zagora Municipality for 2017, which will be directed mainly for the repairs of 31 residential areas, buildings and streets in the district city.
In 2017, by using its own funds, Stara Zagora Municipality will finish the already started reconstruction of the wrestling hall and will modify it into a rhythmic gymnastics hall both East and West bus stations will also be reconstructed.
The main projects for reconstruction and building whose design will be completed this year are Zornitsa Kindergarten, a hall in the Trade Union House, the building donated by Maria Zhekova, will be reconstructed into a Cultural Center for Gifted Children, the prolongation of Hristo Botev Street, Detailed Urban Plan for the development of Zheleznik neighbourhood will be elaborated,etc. These projects will be funded by the municipal budget.
Basic renovation of kindergarten and school buildings, school gyms, street lighting, indoor athletic track, as well as administrative buildings and community centers situated in the villages of Stara Zagora Municipality is also planned. Video surveillance systems, playgrounds, new cemetery in Bogomilovo village, irrigation systems and improvement of Defenders of Stara Zagora park will be established too. Development of a General and a Detailed Urban Plan for Bedechka neighbourhood is intended.
The budget of Stara Zagora Municipality for 2017 amounts to 103,682,000 bulgarian leva; 45 million of them will be allocated for local activities, and the rest 57 million bulgarian leva are planned for state delegated activities,which will be co-financed with 2 million bulgarian leva from local revenues.
Stara Zagora Municipality has an approved Investment Programme amounting to 52, 653,000 bulgarian leva under Priority axis 1 of Operational programme “Regions in Growth”allocated into five investment priorities. Projects amounting to 45,000,000 bulgarian leva under three of the investment priorities of the programme – urban environment, educational infrastructure and public transport are already prepared. Further approval of the projects by the Managing Authority of Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” is expected and the beginning of their implementation will be in 2017.
Stara Zagora Municipality has signed two contracts for implementation of projects under the procedure for granting financial assistance BG16RFOP001-3.002 “Support for the vocational schools in Bulgaria”. Under Priority Axis 3 “Regional educational infrastructure” will be performed basic renovation and modernization of Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski High School of Economics for total 1.4 million bulgarian leva and I. Pavlov Vocational School of Veterinary Medicine for total 1.3 million bulgarian leva.
In 2017 the construction works on the project “Renovation of educational infrastructure in Stara Zagora” will begin. Its value is nearly 15 million bulgarian leva and will cover four schools and two kindergartens – Zelezninik Secondary School – 5.6 million bulgarian leva, Romain Rolland Secondary Language School – 2.2 million bulgarian leva, Veselin Hanchev IX Primary School – 2.2 million bulgarian leva and Ivan Vazov Secondary School – 1.9 million bulgarian leva, Zvezdichka Kindergarten located in Zeleznik neighbourhood – 1.8 million bulgarian leva and Zvunche Kindergarten located in Tri Chuchura Sever neighbourhood – 1.2 million leva.
Another important project under OPRR for this year is “Green and accessible urban environment for the residents of Stara Zagora – phase II” totaling 15.7 million bulgarian leva. With a budget of 7 million bulgarian leva will be renovated the Metropolitan Metodiy Kusev Park (the Ayazmo) which is symbolic for Stara Zagora. New gardens, paths, lighting, playgrounds are planned. The pedestrian area in the city centre will be renovated with funds amounting to 7.5 million levs. Installation of benches is planned there, as well as extra fountains and playgrounds. An entirely new concept of the square space in front of the City Hall will be realized, a budget of 1.2 million bulgarian leva will be used for this purpose.
For the public transport the budget is 13, 970,000 bulgarian leva. The overpass of St. Patriarch Euthymius blvd.,over the railway line, will be renovated. An upgrade of the measures implemented so far for the improvement of the public transport is also planned, and a traffic management system and electronic ticketing will be introduced.
The Investment programme of the municipality of Stara Zagora under priority axis 1 of OPRR 2014-2020 plans funds for energy efficiency for the City Hall and private buildings. Additionally, construction of 80 social housing premises is envisaged at a cost of 3.2 million bulgarian leva in the Lozenets neighbourhood of Stara Zagora.
On the 29th of September 2016, Stara Zagora Municipality submitted two projects for educational infrastructure of vocational schools under priority axis 3 of the OP “Regions in Growth.” With funds amounting to 1.4 million bulgarian leva, the Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski High School of Economics – Stara Zagora will be renovated. And 1.3 million bulgarian leva are envisaged for repair of the Professional Veterinary School.
Under priority axis 3 of the OPRR are provided 2 million levs for relocation of the Vocational School of Electronics into the Vocational School of Electrical Engineering in Stara Zagora, both schools will use one building. With 891,000 bulgarian leva will be renovated and refurbished the building of the Vocational School of Construction, Architecture and Geodesy.
At the end of last year began the reconstruction of the sewerage and water supply network in the Tri Chuchura Sever neighbourhood. After completion of the construction works, the streets will be recovered with asphalt.
In 2017 Standard & Poor‘s International Rating Agency confirmed the long-term credit rating of Municipality of Stara Zagora. It remains BB+ with a stable outlook, reflecting primarily the credit rating of the Republic of Bulgaria
Investments in Stara Zagora are ongoing. There is continuous expansion and technological innovation of companies that already operate in the municipality, such as Standard Profile, Gradus, Panchim, Oscar Ruegg, etc.
A serious problem in Stara Zagora is the lack of available workforce, since the unemployment rate is only 4.3%. This severely limits the attraction of large industrial companies such as Yazaki, which wants to invest in plants with staff of about 1000-2000 people.
Taxes for doing business in Stara Zagora are among the lowest in the country. The Municipal administration is actively working for a fast and quality service for businesses with less administrative burden and good attitude. As a result of the active work of the Finance Department of the municipality, the tax collection rate is approaching 90%.
