Budget of the Capital City Bratislava for 2026, historically the lowest debt and more money for security, road and pavement repairs and public transport

The city has a long-term policy of reducing its debt burden, which is planned at 44.1% for 2026. This represents the lowest debt level in the city’s modern history, and the city leadership wants to continue reducing it.

For context, it is important to recall that the current management of the capital city took office from the previous leadership in 2018 carrying a debt of 51.7% of the previous year’s current income. Despite the Covid pandemic and various crises and government measures that cost the city tens of millions of euros annually, it has managed to lower the city’s debt to the current level of approximately 45.9% in seven years and has set next year's budget such that the debt continues to decline significantly, to the level of the already mentioned 44.1%.

Thanks to good management, the city’s leadership is succeeding in reducing debt even though it is investing much more in the development of the city than its predecessors. A comparison of the city’s capital budgets shows that over a seven-year period (2012 – 2018), the predecessors of the current leadership invested approximately 234.3 million euros in the development of the city, while the current leadership has invested up to 431.7 million euros over an equal seven-year period (2019 –2025). City development cannot be stopped, and Bratislava needs significant investments in services, transport infrastructure or public spaces. This is also taken into account in next year’s budget, which plans to significantly increase investments in several areas.

One of them is security, which has been discussed and closely monitored in recent times. In this context, the largest amount of money in history has been allocated for the activities of the city police for next year – a total almost 18.8 million euros. For the sake of comparison – in 2018 this was 8.8 million euros, and for this year it is 17.4 million euros. The goal of increasing the city police budget is to ensure greater safety for residents and visitors to the capital, including by further increasing the number of police officers. Despite the fact that Bratislava already has more city police officers on the streets than ever before, it is clear that this is not enough to solve the problem of deteriorating perceived security. Increasingly, especially after the approval of the government’s amendment to the criminal code, local governments, including the capital city, are struggling with growing aggression in public spaces and an increase in shoplifting, which is compounded by additional criminality.

A higher budget in the amount of €11.1 million is also planned for the repair and maintenance of roads and pavements. As a result, it will be possible to repair up to 33,000 m2 of local roads and car parks in the amount of €4 million and to repair or replace another 21,000 m2 of pavements, road segments, transport stops, curbs and paving stones for over €3 million. The budget also includes funding for projects such as the City for Children, interchanges, barrier-free modifications or the implementation of green islands. The budget is also being significantly increased for the construction and maintenance of parking infrastructure, including the already announced projects of multi-storey car parks or Park and Ride spots at the Janíkov dvor, ZOO, Zlaté piesky, Saratovská in Dúbravka, or Wolkrova in Petržalka locations and the launch of the micro-parking space project. Another major investment, totalling over €2 million, is directed towards the modernisation and reconstruction of bridges and pedestrian walkways.

More than €8.5 million compared to this year will also go towards further improving the quality of public transport, thanks to which the city’s transport company DPB will be able to invest in the purchase of new vehicles. The massive replacement of the vehicle fleet thus continues with the goal of ensuring better and more reliable public transport for the residents and visitors of Bratislava. Investments in transport infrastructure and public spaces also comprise a significant budget item for the capital city – the modernisation of the Ružinovská radial and the construction of a trolleybus line between Patrónka and Riviéra and Bulharská – Galvaniho. The largest item among public spaces is the reconstruction of the Námestie SNP and Námestie Nežnej revolúcie. Other projects from this chapter include, for example, the revitalisation of Rohlík Lake, the public space Service Centre in Dúbravka, the public space near the OC Saratov Shopping Centre or the Zochova bus stop.

The city has also not forgotten the social side of the budget for next year. From all the planned projects, the increase in investments in the planned repair and reconstruction of residential facilities for seniors can be highlighted. As a part of this, the highest amount (almost €1.4 million) has been budgeted for the first stage of a major reconstruction and modernisation of the large-capacity facility, the Senior Citizens’ Home in Bratislava’s Petržalka.

When compiling next year’s budget, the city leadership placed special emphasis on responsible debt management in order to support financial stability and maintain the financial health of the city. The strategic aim of compiling the budget for 2026 was to ensure stable and effective financing of the city’s development while also reflecting the consolidation of public finances and the ongoing economic uncertainty at the state-wide level.

Along with the budget proposal showing the lowest debt level in the city’s modern history, the city leadership also informed the city deputies about the adoption of measures to further lower the city’s debt ↗︎. This is a decision of the mayor, containing specific measures and a procedure for a more rapid reduction of the city’s debt, with the aim of achieving a debt level below 40%. Aside from achieving this goal, the measures also aim to support more predictable management of the city’s debt, to reduce current expenditures for debt financing and to create additional fiscal space for unexpected events, while also maintaining the continuity of the city’s development.

The capital city proceeded to compile the budget for 2026 with regard to current macroeconomic developments, legislative frameworks and strategic priorities for development of the city. When compiling the budget, emphasis was placed on responsible debt management in order to support financial stability and maintain the financial health of the city of Bratislava.

The proposed budget for 2026 is compiled with a balanced economic result, i.e., total budgeted revenues are equal to total budgeted expenditures. Revenues of the capital city Bratislava for 2026 are planned to be 760.5 million euros.

Expenditures for 2026 reflect the level of inflation and the costs associated with ensuring the maintenance of the range and quality of the standard of services provided to residents, such as social programmes, care of public spaces, security and education. Capital expenditures are set to support infrastructure investments with an emphasis on sustainable development of the city and an increase in the quality of life.