Akims in Kazakhstan to be given more powers

Tengrinews.kz – On February 6, the Senate discussed the changes provided for by the new Budget Code. Senator Serik Uteshov raised issues related to the distribution of expenses between budget levels and the competencies of akimats (local government organisations).
According to Uteshov, the distribution of a number of industry functions between the national and local levels has raised questions and criticism.

"The new Budget Code provides for several provisions that directly affect the financial support and competence of local government bodies. In particular, the distribution of expenses between budget levels, where the financing of sectoral areas in the republican, regional, district and rural budgets determines the distribution of functions between the central and territorial levels. But, as the discussion of these provisions of the Budget Code showed, the distribution of many sectoral functions at the republican and local levels raises many questions and criticism. These include functions in the field of education, employment, social security, the penal system, defense, forestry, and others," the senator listed.

According to the deputy, before transferring powers to the akimats, a detailed analysis of their personnel, financial and operational capabilities was not carried out.
In response to Uteshov's comments, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin said that the functional analysis is carried out on an ongoing basis. According to the official, one of the key aspects of the reform is to expand the financial capacity of local budgets, especially in the context of the upcoming election of akims.

"In this regard, we do not yet see any threats associated with the fact that the budgets were transferred, but some functions still remained at the regional level. (...) In general, the task that the country's leadership set for us has been completed. To date, the percentage of the local budget has increased from 36% to 47%. (...) Quite large opportunities have now appeared within the region for the redistribution of financial resources," the Deputy Prime Minister explained.

Zhumangarin also reported that pilot projects are planned within the framework of the reform, including in the field of education, which will allow testing new financing mechanisms at the local level.