Polish local governments protest proposed funding allocations

Polish local government organizations are protesting proposed changes to the distribution of public funds. The Association of Polish Cities (ZMP) issued a negative opinion regarding a Ministry of National Education draft regulation for 2027. The ZMP argues that the proposed 122 billion PLN for educational needs does not cover actual expenditures and will create financial deficits, particularly for cities with county rights. They also noted that the proposed algorithm may treat certain large cities unfairly by excluding them from specific financing indicators.

Simultaneously, the Union of Polish Towns (UMP) is challenging the current system for allocating funds for ecological needs. The UMP contends that the 1.5 billion PLN currently allocated is distributed based on the presence of protected areas rather than actual ecological requirements. This system reportedly benefits larger cities like Warsaw, Gdynia, and Gdańsk, which receive funds simply for having protected lands within their borders. The UMP has requested the Ministry of Finance to review these allocation methods and the calculation of CIT and PIT revenues for surrounding municipalities.