Division and Competences Explained

Local government in city districts

Bratislava is divided into seventeen city boroughs for the purposes of self-government. These boroughs are legal entities which manage entrusted property and financial resources under the conditions laid down by the Bratislava Act and the Statute of the Capital City. Each borough has its own mayor, local council and local authority.

Members of the local council are elected by the citizens of the borough in direct elections for a four-year term. The number of local council members in each borough is determined by the local council before the elections. In boroughs with up to 3000 inhabitants (Devín, Záhorská Bystrica, Jarovce, Rusovce, and Čunovo), there are between nine and thirteen members in each local council. In boroughs with up to 20,000 inhabitants (Vrakuňa, Vajnory, Lamač and Devínska Nová Ves), the number of members in each local council ranges from eleven to thirty. In boroughs with more than 20,000 inhabitants (Staré Mesto, Ružinov, Podunajské Biskupice, Nové Mesto, Rača, Dúbravka, Karlova Ves and Petržalka), the number of members in each local council is between thirty-one and sixty.

Mayor and City Council

The mayor and deputies of the local council are elected by the inhabitants of the city district in direct elections for a four-year term. The number of local councilors in each city district is determined by the local council before the election, taking into account the population on 1 January of the election year. There are 5 to 7 deputies in the local council in city districts with less than 2,000 inhabitants (Devín, Čunovo). In urban areas with less than 10,000 inhabitants (Jarovce, Rusovce, Vajnory, Záhorská Bystrica and Lamač), the number of deputies in the local council ranges from 7 to 9 deputies. There are 9 to 15 deputies in the local council in the city districts with less than 30,000 inhabitants (Devínska Nová Ves, Vrakuňa, Podunajské Biskupice, Rača). In city districts with less than 100,000 inhabitants (Karlová Ves, Dúbravka, Nové Mesto, Staré Mesto, Ružinov), there are 15 to 25 deputies in the local council. In the Petržalka district, which has more than 100,000 inhabitants, 25-35 deputies are elected.

The mayor is the statutory of the city district, he represents it and represents it externally. He manages the activities of the city district office and conducts the meetings of the local council. He signs all decisions issued by the city district, unless he entrusts another employee of the city district in accordance with the law.

Local councils decide on significant issues of local importance such as:

the budget and annual account of the city district
the generally binding regulations of the city district
the management of the property and funds of the city district
the protection and creation of the environment of the city district
local fees and charges
the establishment of enterprises, organisations and facilities of the city district
spatial planning documentation of the city district and its zones

The sessions of local councils are open to the public and are chaired by the city district mayor. The local council may ask the city council to discuss issues of a citywide nature that concern the interests of the city district. If the view of the city council differs from that of the local council, the approval of a three-fifths majority of the members of the city council who are present shall be required to adopt a resolution.

Competences of city districts

The core competences

The local government of a city district administers matters of local importance. The basic tasks and competences of a city district include:

management of movable and immovable property of the city which is entrusted to the city district's administration and of acquired property
drawing up the city district’s budget and annual account as well as organising the public debate on this matter
deciding on the introduction of local charges
directing the economic activities of the city district
the management, maintenance and construction of local (i.e. classes III and IV) roads – including adjacent streets, pavements, cycle paths, separate pavements and steps as well as green areas and trees and the maintenance of public spaces
the management and maintenance of historical monuments and buildings of local importance
the cleaning of local (classes III and IV) roads and the management and maintenance of green areas
authorising the opening times of shops and services and the management of marketplaces
the procurement of territorial planning documentation for the city district and its zones
ensuring public order and fire protection in the city district

The competences in terms of delegated state administration

In terms of delegated state administration, the city districts perform the following tasks entrusted to them by the city upon the basis of the statute and its supplements:

receiving notices of building modifications which do not change the appearance of the building
permitting information, advertising and promotional facilities
issuing confirmations of notification of a protected mineral
collecting basic waste disposal fees from landfill operators
reporting the occurrence of highly dangerous pests
the approval of fisheries management and the issue of fishing licences
the functions of the road administration authority for local (classes III and IV) roads
authorising lotteries and other games
levying and administering local taxes of local significance
caring for families
caring for severely disabled citizens and the elderly
operating social care facilities
changing the names of streets and other public spaces
receiving notifications on organising public cultural, sporting and tourist events
deciding on the obligation of an organisation to set up fire watches
setting up a voluntary fire brigade
discussing the establishment and closure of kindergartens and primary schools with the school administration