form of government:

Mayor/Municipal Council

legislative body:

Municipal Council (37 councilors)

election schedule:

4 years

population:

75,216

territory of municipal communities:

218 sq. miles

1 city, 134 villages

budget:

BGN 13,259,994 (2001)

structure of budget:

National Grants - 9.6%

Tax Revenues - 52.3%

Non-tax Revenues - 30.86%

Transfers - 6.71%

Other - 0.53%

structure of budget expenditures:

Education - 39.53%

Healthcare - 2.7%

Social Care - 13.34%

Capital Outlays - 5.9%

Other - 38.53%

socio-economic information:

Median Monthly Per Capita Income - BGN 273

Unemployment Rate (2001) - 10.83%

Level of Education:

Primary - 13.43%

Secondary - 1.65%

Higher - 1.45%

five major employers or companies:

STS Holding Group - 1,200

Instrument AG - 1,100

Kapitan Dyado nikola AG - 460

Mercurius JSC - 400

Stancho Kolev - 300

contact information:

Mr. Bogomil Belchev

Mayor

Phone: +359.66.249.39

Fax: +359.66.293.71

Email: [email protected]

Ms. Galina Vitanova

Mayor's Chief of Staff

Phone: +359.66.249.39

Fax: +359.66.293.71

Email: [email protected]