ON THE ISSUE OF SUBSTANCE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS

Abstract

The article analyzes the institutions of public hearings and public discussions. The issue that public hearings are one of the bridges between civil society and local authorities is considered. The important role of this institution is justified and the purpose of public hearings is analyzed. The experts’ and practitioners’ perceptions, as well as the author's critical position on some of them, are provided. The issue of efficiency of these forms of population participation in local government activities is discussed. The research considers the inappropriateness of submitting such a serious document as the draft local budget to public hearing, as the local budget is not the money itself, as many representatives of the local communities believe, but only the total of income and expenditure, drawn up in the form of a municipal legal act. Drafting a budget is a serious process involving professionals. No wonder the budget is drafted by the financial body of the local authority. The budget is drafted based on the forecast of the socio-economic development of the territory, main directions of the budget and tax policies, forecast plan for the local economy development, the established amounts of financial assistance from higher-level budgets and other documents. The draft budget contains main indicators: volume of revenue and expenditure sides, deficit and ways to cover it, debt and sources of its financing. Also, the author analyzes legislator’s intention and legal framework of public hearings. As a result, the author provides recommendations for improving the legal regulation of these institutions.