Division and Competences Explained

In city districts with up to 2,000 inhabitants (Devín, Čunovo), the local council consists of 5 to 7 council members. In districts with up to 10,000 inhabitants (Jarovce, Rusovce, Vajnory, Záhorská Bystrica, and Lamač), the local council has between 7 and 9 council members. In districts with up to 30,000 inhabitants (Devínska Nová Ves, Vrakuňa, Podunajské Biskupice, Rača), the local council consists of 9 to 15 council members. In districts with up to 100,000 inhabitants (Karlová Ves, Dúbravka, Nové Mesto, Staré Mesto, Ružinov), the number of local council members ranges from 15 to 25. In the Petržalka district, which has more than 100,000 inhabitants, 25 to 35 council members are elected.

The district´s mayor is the statutory representative of the city district, represents it externally, and acts on its behalf. The district´s mayor manage the activities of the city district office and preside over the meetings of the local council. The district´s mayor also sign all decisions issued by the city district, unless he or she delegate this authority to another city district employee 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.

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 in the city district

The competencies of city districts in areas where the state has entrusted local governments with execution and which are carried out on behalf of the Slovak Republic by city districts based on law or the statute of the capital primarily include tasks in the following sectors:

• Building authority,
• Education office,
• Registry office,
• Population records,
• Address register,
• Environmental protection,
• Road administration authority for third- and fourth-class roads.
• According to the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, the state is fully responsible for financing these comprehensive activities and tasks.