Sofia City Council Approves Budget for 2019

The Sofia City Council approved the municipal budget for 2019 which exceeds BGN 1.7 billion, Focus News Agency reports. With BGN 447.9 million, transport is the biggest item in the budget. The sum includes BGN 306 million for the construction of the third metro line and over BGN 133 million for additional buses and trams, with a focus on new buses with natural gas engines. For education, the municipality has allocated the record-high BGN 75 million, including BGN 19 million for the construction of 15 new kindergartens. The remainder is earmarked for school and kindergarten reconstruction, modernisation and expansion, and sports activities. Over BGN 37 million is allocated for activities related to the environment. A mobile automatic air quality station will be purchased for BGN 800,000. Other activities relate to river beds, dams, rubbish, street washing, biomass transformation into wood pellets, parks reconstruction and the first public waterpark. New 5-year contracts are to be concluded for separate waste collection.