Report on technical assistance to the City of Slupsk, Poland

The city is undergoing considerable economic change, as private enterprises are being formed, joint public-private projects are underway, communal housing is being sold, and new institutions are being explored to attract private capital. This report identifies initiatives which the local government can take to deal with problems in the areas of housing and housing finance. Principal recommendations include the following. (1) Privatization of public housing should be accelerated to prevent the continuing strain of maintenance costs on the city"s finances. (2) Older communal housing should be rehabilitated to avoid deterioration and housing shortages. (3) Tax revenues should be increased, primarily through property taxes, in order to finance the construction of needed infrastructure. A number of recommendations are also provided on the organization of the city government and municipal services. The report points out that local initiatives in Slupsk and other cities will need to conform to national legislation currently being revised or developed on public capital finance, mortgage lending, disposition of state and communal property, property transfer, land planning and development, building standards, and environmental controls.