Relocation of Bulgarian State Bodies to Use Up BGN 120 M

According to employees of the revenue and the customs administration, the planned relocation will absorb at least BGN 120 M. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Plans of the Borisov Cabinet to relocate state agencies and bodies away from Sofia will cost at least BGN 120 M, according to representatives of the National Revenue Agency (NRA) and the Customs Agency.

The officials of the NRA, which is to be transferred to Veliko Tarnovo, and the Customs Agency (CA), which is to be moved to Ruse, have complained about the forthcoming relocation in a joint letter cited by Sega daily.

In May, tax officials and customs officers submitted to Parliament a petition against the administrative reform plans.

The letter of the NRA and the Customs Agency reminds that the step will be very time and money consuming.

The public officials say that the relocation will entail rental expenses for the new offices and business trips of officials who need to attend meetings in Sofia on a daily basis.

Apart from that, the step will stir chaos and cause delays in the work of the institutions, the NRA and CA employees say.

The representatives of the customs and revenue administrations also note that the units in Veliko Tarnovo and Ruse are not top performers in terms of tax and customs duties receipts.

The relocation of state agencies and bodies is aimed at boosting local economies.

The officials who agree to move will receive financial bonuses amounting to one monthly salary.

On May 23, the GERB government decided to start the relocation with the Executive Agency on Fisheries and Aquacultures, which will be moved to Burgas, while the Tourism Directorate of the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism will be transferred to Plovdiv from September 1, 2012.

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