It is very difficult to argue with an article written at such a substantive level that it becomes necessary to explain obvious truths which, one would think, have been generally known after five years of local-government functioning; all the more so because this is a polemic with a Municipal Councilor.
Therefore, to begin with, here are a few important points in the briefest possible form. Since 1990, government and local-government administration have been operating; each of these administrations has statutory responsibilities and guaranteed budgetary funds for carrying them out.
The share of local governments in the state’s public finances amounted, for example, to 17.5% in 1992, but fell to 13.5% in 1995 (despite an increase in the number of responsibilities, most recently the payment of housing allowances). We must use these funds to carry out a great many socially extremely important tasks, such as municipal and housing management, the need to renovate old residential buildings, the renovation and construction of new water-supply and sewerage networks, the construction of roads, wastewater-treatment plants and waste-disposal sites, social welfare, nursery schools, public transport, etc.
We are aware that the money available in the local-government budget is definitely insufficient to eliminate, satisfactorily and reasonably quickly, the neglect in the areas for which we are statutorily responsible. But, on the other hand, we also observe neglect, or often even a catastrophic situation, in education, health care and the police, and we try to support the government administration, which has 86.5% of the state budget this year to carry out, among other things, these tasks. With this knowledge, our assistance for education should be assessed differently. It is worth recalling that in 1994 we allocated 3.25 billion old zlotys for this purpose, including 2.47 billion for primary schools. With this money, substantial renovations were carried out in all schools, focusing mainly on roofs, sheet-metal work and the renovation of gymnasiums. This year, following the latest budget changes, the amount will be 1.22 billion old zlotys; these funds will finance renovations and extracurricular activities.
Next year, when we become responsible for running primary schools, we will receive a state-budget subsidy of approximately 68 billion old zlotys, and we already know today that this amount will be approximately 15% too small to cover the current operating costs of our nine Bolesławiec schools, not including renovations. We also know that, despite this, we will make up for many years of neglect in renovations—and that is our policy.
I am convinced that the local government in Bolesławiec has so far demonstrated responsibility, and that it will not be lacking when caring for the schools. It is only a pity that Councilor Andrzej Chodyra places himself outside this local government, does not use the opportunity given to him by voters to shape local policy, but instead wants to be its censor and so easily accuses others of demagoguery.