MONITORING AND POLICIES TOWARDS THE MUNICIPALITIES WITH FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

Local government in Bulgaria is determined by strong legal regulation, significant imbalances and heterogeneity. Municipalities have different socio-economic and demographic potential. This defines different conclusions regarding the budget process, which is a basic attestation of the volume of municipal commitments and the resources for their implementation. The aim of the study is to present the quantitative measures that define a municipality as "a municipality in difficulty" and on this basis to present some summaries and recommendations. The study uses general and specific methods of assessment and analysis. The results show that a group of municipalities is in permanent financial difficulty. This requires a differentiated approach by the central government to local government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]