Sofia City Hall Presents Development Strategy

Sofia city hall has published its plans for the management and development of the city until 2011 on its website. Its motto is "The Change Goes On" and needs the approval of the Sofia municipal council before going into effect

By end-2011, when the current term of Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov expires, the collection rate of local taxes, fees and fines should reach 100 per cent, while the amount collected should show an increase of 50 per cent over the figure for 2007. Proceeds from leased municipal property and from advertising should increase fourfold.

A management and control system for the collection of local taxes, fees and fines should be designed and implemented by the end of 2008. The municipality expects a total of 300 million euro to be raised for projects through public-private partnerships.

The city hall will also focus on the construction of council estates, to be rented out to families with proven low incomes. Additionally, four sport halls would be built by 2011.

Detailed spatial development plans will be designed for Sofia's housing estates and parks. Twelve new streets will be built and 18 will be broadened; 16 crossroads will be reconstructed while 13 new underground parking lots will be built. An information system for traffic management comprising 800 sensors, 100 closed circuit TV cameras and 50 data transfer devices will be put into operation by the end of 2008. A design for a new cemetery will be developed by 2011 while the existing ones will be extended. The municipality will also endorse the construction of private cemeteries.

The city hall will also focus on the construction of council estates, to be rented out to families with proven low incomes. Additionally, four sport halls would be built by 2011.