1987. Különkiadvány, 1987.10.01 / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2

The councils' economic independence doee nőt mean that each council has to rely entirely on ite ovn taz revenue. That vould only preserve and viden the territorial differences. Bút it vili be necessary to strive to end arbitrary reallocation of revehues (vhich actually favors the better-off communities) and to reduce the Central government1s interference associated vith reallocation.- Central grants ahould supplement local revenue commensurately vith the •ize of the local population, so that on a per capita hasis the financial resources available to the councils attain a certain minimál level.- Each council should be free to decide hov to spend its grant. Whether the Boney is spent on a gym fór the school or on the ezpansion of the clinic is something fór vhich the local-government organs ought to be accountable only to their ovn constituents. The ezpenditures to vhich every Hungárián Citizen is equally entitled—e.g. velfare payments fór those vho are belov the subsitence level—are the only ezception.- Detailed Central administration is nőt varranted even in the case of Services to vhich all citizens are entitled. Consider education as an ezample. The educational authorities ought to specify a certain core curriculum that is generally binding, bút over and above vhich they vould allov vide room fór variety, fór different teztbooks, different ratios of subjects in the schedule, and different teaching methods. As self-managed organizations, the schools tbemselves vould be able to choo6e among the different options. The council vould oversee their compliance vith the lav. Priváté schools could alsó fit intő this educational System.

In the interest of enabling the local communities to hold their elected council accountable and to influence its decisions, ve propose the folloving:- Council meetings, ezcept in emergencies, should be open to the public.

The local communities should be informed beforehand about the time and agenda of the meetings.- The population should be alloved to present proposals regarding the agenda of the council meetings and the content of the resolutions the council adopts. Piacing an initiative on the agenda should be mandatory vhen a specified number of residents have signed the petition.- The representatives of local movementB, initative-sponsoring groups and voluntary associations should be invited to attend—vith a voice bút no vote—the council debate on issues they support.- The council should survey public opinion before making investment decision6 that vili have a painful impact on the population. A referendum should be mandatory before a decision on matters of ezceptional importance (fór ezample, investments that vould pose a threat to the living environment).- Finally, it appear6 necessary to allov the councils to form a national federation that vould represent local interests in dealing vith the government and other Central agencies.

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