Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev commented on the draft state budget for next year. According to him, there is a very big problem in Budget 2026 for the capital - there is no transparency and no predictability, and this is the most important thing for large municipalities like Sofia.
"There may be enough money for Sofia. But for now, they are hidden behind the curtain. I hope the mayor of the capital does not have to “stand under the coat of arms“ for the funds to reach the “people”. The state budget should not become an instrument of political pressure. It should be an instrument of development. Regardless of what the final version of the state budget looks like, Sofia Municipality will continue to consistently uphold its policy - transparency, efficiency and financial stability.", believes Vasil Terziev.
He also pointed out the good news: The money that Sofia will receive from the state for schools and other activities delegated by the state increases by about 90 million euros (or 14%). The money that the state gives Sofia for investments and construction increases by almost 1.5 million euros (or 11%).
However, the 2026 Budget lacks the subsidy for the capital's public transport, he noted.
"In the 2025 budget, it was 106 million leva, plus 15 million leva in additional aid from the Council of Ministers (remember that money with which they “solved” the crisis with the transport strike). For 2026 – complete uncertainty in the budget. How much money will the state allocate for the capital's urban transport? How will we guarantee the stability of one of the largest transport systems in Bulgaria?", asks the mayor.
In his words, the Metropolitan, a strategic object of national importance, is also in the dark. The mayor asks more questions: "How much money is planned for the expansion of the metro in 2026? In previous years, there were 40 million. Is there any for this one? And how much for its security? Every year, security becomes more expensive and we have been praying for a whole year for these funds. When will it go to the serious budget of the Ministry of Internal Affairs?"
He believes that without clear numbers, it is impossible to plan long-term.
Terziev also draws attention to the funds for the Investment Program for Municipal Projects, which will go through the Bulgarian Development Bank. His comment here is also full of questions:
"What is the added value for the state or for the municipalities? Will the municipalities be required to return funds or pay interest? If the state will pay interest to the bank anyway - why not provide the money directly to the municipalities? Will payments to the correct municipalities finally begin? Sofia has still only received 237 thousand leva for 2025, with 156 projects approved and 10 signed agreements for this year. The submitted payment requests amount to almost 35 million leva. Will there be funds to pay for all the sites for which we already have a contract and relations and work performed?", he asks.
The possibility has been provided for the fee for “household waste“ to remain unchanged in 2026, but it is not clear on what basis it will be calculated. If not a tax assessment - what? The Ministry of Finance owes an answer, because it is about the predictability of one of the most sensitive local taxes that every household will feel, Terziev pointed out.