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Letonya’da Yerel Yönetimlerin İdari ve Mali Yapısı

Year 2025, Volume: 17 Issue: 47, 260 - 289, 10.04.2025
https://doi.org/10.31198/idealkent.1485688

Abstract

Letonya Baltık Denizi’ne kıyısı bulunan küçük bir Doğu Avrupa ülkesidir. Ülkedeki yerel yönetimler, Sovyetler Birliği'nin dağılmasının ve bağımsızlığın kazanılmasının sonrasında gerçekleştirilen bir dizi yasal düzenlemeyle güçlendirilmiştir. Bu kapsamda yerel kamu hizmeti sunumunda etkinliğin sağlanması amacıyla 2009 ve 2021 yılında yapılan hukuki düzenlemeler ile küçük belediyelerin birleştirilmesi yoluna gidilmiştir. Böylelikle 550’yi aşan kentsel ve kırsal belediye sayısı 43’e kadar düşürülmüştür. Ancak Türkiye’deki sürecin aksine Letonya’daki yerel yönetimler reformu, ağırlıklı olarak gönüllülük esasına göre birleşmeleri temel alan bir yapıya sahiptir. Ülkedeki kentsel ve kırsal belediyeler arasında görev, yetki ve kurumsal yapılanma olarak pek farklılık bulunmamaktadır. Letonya’da yerel yönetimler geniş hizmet sorumluluk alanlarına sahiptir. Eğitim, sağlık, kamusal kolaylık üretimi ve dağıtımı, sosyal refah hizmetleri, dinlenme ve eğlence hizmetleri, katı atık ve kanalizasyon hizmetleri, ısınma, şehir içi ulaşım ve ulaşım altyapısı, kültür ve eğlence hizmetleri, çevrenin korunması, imar, konut, şehir ve bölge planlaması, yerel kalkınma gibi hizmetler yerel yönetimler tarafından ifa edilmektedir. Ülkedeki kamu istihdamının yarısı yerel yönetimler tarafından yapılmaktadır. Yerel yönetim harcamalarına bakıldığında çalışanlar için yapılan ödemelerin ve eğitim hizmeti üretim giderlerinin ön plana çıktığı görülmektedir. Yerel yönetim gelirlerinin ise, ağırlıklı olarak vergi gelirlerinden ve merkezi yönetim tarafından yapılan transferlerden oluştuğu söylenebilir. Merkezi yönetim transferleri içerisinde ise, şartlı transferlerin baskınlığı gözlenmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Letonya'daki yerel yönetimlerin idari ve mali yapısını literatür taraması ve derlemesi temelinde incelemektir.

References

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  • Subnational Governments in OECD Countries (2023). Key data. 13.03.2023 tarihinde https://www.oecd.org/regional/multi-level-governance/nuancıer%202023- 3.pdf adresinden erişildi.
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  • Stučka, M. (2023). Local leadership during the territorial amalgamation process –The case of Latvia, Central European Public Administration Review, 21(1), 61–84. doi:10.17573/cepar.2023.1.03
  • Swianiewicz, P. (2010). Territorial consolidation reforms in europe, Local Government And Public Service Reform Initiative, Open Society İnstitute–Budapest. 09.08.2020 tarihinde https://www.academia.edu/29016909/Territorial_Consolidation_Reforms_in_Europe adresinden erişildi.
  • Tresury of Republic of Latvia. (2023). 22.09.2023 tarihinde http://www.kase.gov.lv/index.php. adresinden erişildi.
  • UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments). (2016). Subnational governments around the world structure and finance. 14.09.2020 tarihinde https://www.uclg.org/sites/default/files/global_observatory_of_local_finance-part_iii.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). (2016). Report on local government finances international practices and models, 1-71. 09.03.2021 tarihinde https://www.undp.org/moldova/publications/report-local-government-finances-international-practices-and-models adresinden erişildi.
  • Vanags, E., Balanoff H. R. ve Lauletta Jr. J. F. (1999). After the fall of the soviet union: The changing status of local governments in the republic of Latvia. International journal of Public Administration, 22:1, 135-169. doi: 10.1080/01900699908525378
  • Vanags, E. ve Vilka, I. (2000). Local government in Latvia. Decentralization: Experiments and Reforms, (1), Edited by Tamas M. Horvath, LGI books. 11.01.2020 tarihinde http://pdc.ceu.hu/archive/00006917/01/LGI_Decentralization-Experiments-and-Reforms_2000.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Vanags, E. ve Vilka, I. (2010). Country profile: Latvia united cities and local government, UCLG Country Profiles, 11.10.2023 tarihinde https://www.gold.uclg.org/sites/default/files/Latvia_0.pdf adresinden erişilmiştir.
  • Vanags, E. ve Vilka, I. (2003). Local government reform in the baltic countries, in: N. Kersting & A. Vetter (Eds) Reforming Local Government İn Europe: Closing The Gap Between Democracy And Efficiency. (Opladen: LeskeflBudrich). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-663-11258-7_15
  • Vanags, E. ve Vilka I. (2006). Local government in the baltic states: Similar but different, Local Government Studies, (32:5) 623-637. https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930600896244
  • Vilka, I. ve Vagans, E. (2007). County profile: Latvia: Global observatory on local democracy and decentralization, republic of Latvia. United Cities and Local Governments. 1-10. 23.02.2020 tarihinde https://www.gold.uclg.org/sites/default/files/Latvia_0.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Vilka, I. (2010, March 8-9). Central and local relations in context of development of civil society, (Conference presentation). Situation in Latvia After Administrative Territorial Reform. Tallinn. 22.05.2021 tarihinde https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/md/reforma-eng.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Vilka I. (2011). Latvia: experiments and reforms in decentralization. (John Loughlin, Frank Hendriks, Anders Lidström Ed.) Oxford Handbook of Local And Regional Democracy in Europe, Oxford University Press. 597-617. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199562978.001.0001
  • Vilka, I. (2012). Local government in Latvia. (Angel-Manuel Moreno, Ed.). Local Government in the Member States of the European Union. National Institu of Public Administration Spain. Madrid. 365-387.
  • Vilka, I. (2015). How democratic is Latvia. Audit of democracy 2005-2014. (J. Rozenvalds, Ed.) Decentralisation. University of Latvia, Advanced Social and Political Research Institute. 03.03.2020 tarihinde https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/pictures/Demokrat_en.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Vilka, I. (2015). The role of local government finance equalization on rural development in Latvia. Research for Rural Development, (2), 183-190. 05.06.2021 tarihinde https://llufb.llu.lv/conference/Research-for-Rural-Development/2015/LatviaResearchRuralDevel21st_volume2-183-190.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Začesta, L. ve Pūis M. (2005). The possibility to create large-scale regional governments in Latvia. OECD. 1-9. 24.05.2020 tarihinde https://www.oecd.org/regional/leed/34458330.pdf adresinden erişildi.

Administrative and Fiscal Architectiture of Latvian Local Governments

Year 2025, Volume: 17 Issue: 47, 260 - 289, 10.04.2025
https://doi.org/10.31198/idealkent.1485688

Abstract

Latvia is a small Eastern European country bordering the Baltic Sea. Local governments in the country were strengthened by a series of legal regulations after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the gaining of independence. In 2009 and 2021, local government amalgamations aimed at improving efficiency in the provision of local public services. With local government amalgamations, the number of urban and rural municipalities reduced to 43 from 550. However, unlike the process in Türkiye, it was structured mainly as voluntary mergers. There are not many differences in terms of duties, powers and institutional structure between urban and rural municipalities. Local governments in Latvia have wide range service delivery responsibilities as education, health, production and distribution of public goods, social welfare, recreation, solid waste and sewage, heating, water provision, urban transportation and infrastructure, culture, environmental protection, zoning, housing, city and regional planning and local economic development. Half of the public employment in the country is provided by local governments. In terms of local government expenditures, wage and salary payments for municipal servants and education service provision expenditures are the biggest items. The most important revenue items for municipalities are tax revenues and transfers from the central government. In terms of transfers, conditional transfers are the dominant source of revenue. The aim of this study is to examine the administrative and financial structures of local governments in Latvia through literature review and compilation.

References

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  • Auers, D., (2022). Latvia’s local governments after regional reform and local government elections, Friedrich-ebert-stiftung. 21.01.2023 tarihinde https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/baltikum/18054.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Baldersheim, H., ve Rose, L. E. (2010). Territorial choice, the politics of boundaries and borders, Palgrave Macmillan London. 08.02.2020 tarihinde https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9780230289826 adresinden erişildi.
  • Bulderberga, Z., (2013). Rural and urban municipalities in the regionals of Latvia, Proceedings of the 2013 International Conference Economic Science for Rural Development, No. 38 Jelgava, LLU EF, 25.-26. April 2013, 154-164. 27.02.2019 tarihinde https://lbtufb.lbtu.lv/conference/economic_science_rural/2015/Latvia_ESRD_38_2015-154-164.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Cabinet of Ministers Republic of Latvia. (2023). 09.02.2024 tarihinde https://www.mk.gov.lv/en adresinden erişildi.
  • Cadoret, X., ve Cools, M. (2018). Local and regional democracy in Latvia, Report of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. 11.04.2020 tarihinde https://rm.coe.int/local-and-regional-democracy-in-latvia-monitoring-committee-rapporteur/1680792d98 adresinden erişildi.
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  • Council of European Municipalities and Regions (2013). European section of united cities and local governments. 17.10.2023 tarihinde https://www.ccre.org/pays/view/24 adresinden erişildi.
  • Council of Europe, (2006). Latvia: Structure and operation of local and regional democracy, 11.09.2019 tarihinde https://wcd.coe.int/com.instranet.InstraServlet?command=com.instranet.CmdBlobGet&InstranetImage=1548847&SecMode=1&DocId=1332254&Usage=2 adresinden erişildi.
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  • EU Committee of Regions. (2012). Latvia, division of powers between the european union, the member states and regional and local authorities, 545-575. 17.04.2021 tarihinde https://portal.cor.europa.eu/divisionpowers/Pages/Latvia.aspx. adresinden erişildi.
  • Groenendijk, N. ve Jaansoo, A. (2016). Fiscal federalism in transition countries: The three baltic states compared. Public Finance and Management, 16(3), 255-280. 24.07.20222 tarihinde https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310794424_Fiscal_federalism_in_transition_countries_The_three_Baltic_states_compared adresinden erişildi.
  • Karvatska, S., Yuriychuk Y. ve Chepel, O. (2023). The peculiarities of the reform of local self-government: examples of Ukraine, Latvia, and Poland. Studia Regionalne i Lokalne. Nr 2(92), 7-22. 23.12.2023 tarihinde https://studreg.uw.edu.pl/en/archive,the-peculiarities-of-the-reform-of-local-self-government-examples-of-ukraine-latvia-and-poland adresinden erişildi.
  • King G. J., Vanags, E. Vilka I. ve Mcnabb D. E. (2004). Local government reforms in Latvia, 1990–2003: Transition to a democratic society. Public administration vol. 82, no. 4, 931–950. doi:10.1111/j.0033-3298.2004.00425.x
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  • Saeima. (2023). 04.01.2024 tarihinde https://www.saeima.lv/en/legislative-process/constitution. adresinden erişildi.
  • Slavinskaite, N., Lapinskiene, G., Hlawiczka, R., ve Vasa, L. (2022). Financial innovation management: impact of fiscal decentralization on economic growth of the baltic countries. Marketing and Management of Innovation, (1), 257-271. http://doi.org/10.21272/mmi.2022.1-19
  • SNGWOFI, (2022). World observatory on subnational government finance and investment, Latvia, 31.10.2022 tarihinde https://www.sng-wofi.org/ adresinden erişildi.
  • Subnational Governments in OECD Countries (2023). Key data. 13.03.2023 tarihinde https://www.oecd.org/regional/multi-level-governance/nuancıer%202023- 3.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Sustainable Governance Indicators. (2022). Latvia report sustainable governance ındicators. Bertelsmann Stiftung, 25.05.2023 tarihinde https://www.sgi-network.org/docs/2022/country/SGI2022_Latvia.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Stučka, M. (2023). Local leadership during the territorial amalgamation process –The case of Latvia, Central European Public Administration Review, 21(1), 61–84. doi:10.17573/cepar.2023.1.03
  • Swianiewicz, P. (2010). Territorial consolidation reforms in europe, Local Government And Public Service Reform Initiative, Open Society İnstitute–Budapest. 09.08.2020 tarihinde https://www.academia.edu/29016909/Territorial_Consolidation_Reforms_in_Europe adresinden erişildi.
  • Tresury of Republic of Latvia. (2023). 22.09.2023 tarihinde http://www.kase.gov.lv/index.php. adresinden erişildi.
  • UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments). (2016). Subnational governments around the world structure and finance. 14.09.2020 tarihinde https://www.uclg.org/sites/default/files/global_observatory_of_local_finance-part_iii.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). (2016). Report on local government finances international practices and models, 1-71. 09.03.2021 tarihinde https://www.undp.org/moldova/publications/report-local-government-finances-international-practices-and-models adresinden erişildi.
  • Vanags, E., Balanoff H. R. ve Lauletta Jr. J. F. (1999). After the fall of the soviet union: The changing status of local governments in the republic of Latvia. International journal of Public Administration, 22:1, 135-169. doi: 10.1080/01900699908525378
  • Vanags, E. ve Vilka, I. (2000). Local government in Latvia. Decentralization: Experiments and Reforms, (1), Edited by Tamas M. Horvath, LGI books. 11.01.2020 tarihinde http://pdc.ceu.hu/archive/00006917/01/LGI_Decentralization-Experiments-and-Reforms_2000.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Vanags, E. ve Vilka, I. (2010). Country profile: Latvia united cities and local government, UCLG Country Profiles, 11.10.2023 tarihinde https://www.gold.uclg.org/sites/default/files/Latvia_0.pdf adresinden erişilmiştir.
  • Vanags, E. ve Vilka, I. (2003). Local government reform in the baltic countries, in: N. Kersting & A. Vetter (Eds) Reforming Local Government İn Europe: Closing The Gap Between Democracy And Efficiency. (Opladen: LeskeflBudrich). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-663-11258-7_15
  • Vanags, E. ve Vilka I. (2006). Local government in the baltic states: Similar but different, Local Government Studies, (32:5) 623-637. https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930600896244
  • Vilka, I. ve Vagans, E. (2007). County profile: Latvia: Global observatory on local democracy and decentralization, republic of Latvia. United Cities and Local Governments. 1-10. 23.02.2020 tarihinde https://www.gold.uclg.org/sites/default/files/Latvia_0.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Vilka, I. (2010, March 8-9). Central and local relations in context of development of civil society, (Conference presentation). Situation in Latvia After Administrative Territorial Reform. Tallinn. 22.05.2021 tarihinde https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/md/reforma-eng.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Vilka I. (2011). Latvia: experiments and reforms in decentralization. (John Loughlin, Frank Hendriks, Anders Lidström Ed.) Oxford Handbook of Local And Regional Democracy in Europe, Oxford University Press. 597-617. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199562978.001.0001
  • Vilka, I. (2012). Local government in Latvia. (Angel-Manuel Moreno, Ed.). Local Government in the Member States of the European Union. National Institu of Public Administration Spain. Madrid. 365-387.
  • Vilka, I. (2015). How democratic is Latvia. Audit of democracy 2005-2014. (J. Rozenvalds, Ed.) Decentralisation. University of Latvia, Advanced Social and Political Research Institute. 03.03.2020 tarihinde https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/pictures/Demokrat_en.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Vilka, I. (2015). The role of local government finance equalization on rural development in Latvia. Research for Rural Development, (2), 183-190. 05.06.2021 tarihinde https://llufb.llu.lv/conference/Research-for-Rural-Development/2015/LatviaResearchRuralDevel21st_volume2-183-190.pdf adresinden erişildi.
  • Začesta, L. ve Pūis M. (2005). The possibility to create large-scale regional governments in Latvia. OECD. 1-9. 24.05.2020 tarihinde https://www.oecd.org/regional/leed/34458330.pdf adresinden erişildi.
There are 40 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Policy and Administration (Other)
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Mustafa Çelen 0000-0001-5876-2241

Serdar Yılmaz 0000-0003-4105-709X

Early Pub Date April 10, 2025
Publication Date April 10, 2025
Submission Date May 17, 2024
Acceptance Date April 3, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 17 Issue: 47

Cite

APA Çelen, M., & Yılmaz, S. (2025). Letonya’da Yerel Yönetimlerin İdari ve Mali Yapısı. İDEALKENT, 17(47), 260-289. https://doi.org/10.31198/idealkent.1485688