Support of Reforms Provided by the Regional Development and Interbudgetary Relations Reform Working Subgroup

      A roundtable titled “Support of Reforms Provided by the Regional Development and Interbudgetary Relations Reform Working Subgroup” was held at the Zhytomyr Oblast State Administration building on 23 November 2010. The event was organized by the Institute of Budget jointly with the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine as part of the Municipal Finance Strengthening Initiative project.
     The meeting focused on the implementation status of the 2010 Action Plan of the Regional Development and Interbudgetary Relations Reform Working Subgroup of the Economic Reform Committee, targeted State programs and their results, in particular, the experience of applying the Performance Program Budgeting method for planning and execution of local budgets in the Zhytomyr Oblast, as well as a standard list of budget programs, and an updated codifier of budget programs.
     The event was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Zhytomyr Oblast State Administration (OSA) I.Orlov, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Construction S.Romanyuk, representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, Principal Finance Directorate of Zhytomyr OSA, line directorates of the Zhytomyr City Council, and IBSER experts, with more than 30 participants total.
     In addition, a legislative draft, "On State Support to Associations of Rural Territorial Communities," was presented at the roundtable. The purpose of consolidating such communities into associations is the creation of appropriate living conditions in rural areas. The village councils forming such associations should be located closely together and the State is to provide support to new rural councils for the period of three years. This legislative draft has been prepared by the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction. 
     Also, the roundtable discussed the issues aimed at raising the economic capacity of local governments, in particular, the Performance Program Budgeting method for formulating local budgets. The representatives of the oblast’s finance departments shared their experience of applying the Performance Program Budgeting method in their work, identifying existing issues, and noted a significant economic effect from implementing this method.

All necessary materials can вe found here (Ukr version only):

Agenda and List of Participants 

Presentations