Bălți Municipal Council to vote on 2026 budget and leadership changes

The Bălți Municipal Council has convened an extraordinary meeting to address several key administrative and financial matters. Among the 23 items on the agenda is the first reading and approval of the 2026 municipal budget, presented by Mayor Alexandr Petkov.

The meeting will also address leadership changes within the City Hall, including the proposed termination of Vice Mayor Vitalie Balan’s mandate and the appointment of Eduard Pleșca to the position. Additionally, councilors will consider a proposal to provide free municipal public transport to residents every Wednesday from September 9 through December 31, 2026.

Other topics include initiating a bank loan to fund road development works, management changes at Hotel Bălți, and the distribution of funds for inclusive education.

Separately, the previously announced ‘Green Wednesday’ program, which intended to launch free public transport on September 2, has faced delays. Mayor Petkov stated that the initiative is being blocked by certain municipal councilors from the Socialist, Communist, and Action and Solidarity parties. The Mayor maintains that the municipality can afford the weekly free service and expressed a long-term goal of making public transport free every day starting in 2027.