The Soroca Town Council voted to initiate the procedure for changing the locality’s status in “town of national importance”, Info-Prim Neo learned from Soroca Mayor Elena Bodnarenco. 13 of 23 councilors voted for, 2 abstained and the rest didn’t participate in the voting. “Our goal is to expand the local autonomy of the town of Soroca. At the moment, we have an equal status with the smallest towns in the country, but we’re in the top 6 largest, after the municipalities of Chisinau and Balti. We’re the only ones with the status of historical town”, said the mayor. Elena Bodnarenco complained that the town lacked financial autonomy, which hindered its development. “We have over 30,000 inhabitants, 7000 pensioners, children with disabilities, large families and we still don’t have the right to collect the social fund for supporting the people. We have a museum, but it isn’t subordinated to the town. We have a culture hall and it also isn’t subordinated to the town either. Effective on January 1, 2013, all the schools, gymnasia and lyceums we’ll pass under the control of the District Council. We’re left with the kindergarten, the dumps and the graveyard. What kind of town will this be? Our rights are violated”, said the Mayor. Elena Bonarenco said that she had sent several letters to Prime Minister Vlad Filat to discuss the town’s major problems: changing the status, opening the Soroca industrial park and building the water treatment station. However, she received no answer. “The first step is the decision adopted by councilors. The second is to form an initiative group and the third to consult with society. The last step is to go to Parliament. We want to draw attention to the real decentralization, which is only spoken about”, said the Mayor of Soroca. Elena Bodnarenco said that in 2010 the former councilors requested central authorities to change the town’s status, but weren’t answered. Between 1998 and 2003, Soroca had the status of municipality. Earlier, Mihai Roscovan, an expert in local administration, told Info-Prim Neo that after the territorial-administrative “anti-reform” implemented by the Communists in 2003, Soroca and Cahul lost this status.