Federal savings = regional problems? "Governors are not appanage princes" - this is how Valentina Matvinko responded to the speech of Senator Victor Keres, who criticized the reduction of the territorial divisions of federal structures. Kress gave several examples: the central bank's plans to eliminate operational cash centers in 23 regions; reduction of 160 employees of the social fund in the Tomsk region; Union of tax inspectors; Problems with the availability of Russian post offices. According to the senator, such decisions are made without proper discussion with the regional authorities. He suggested requiring federal buildings to notify regions in advance of upcoming changes. Matvinko objected: digitalization should lead to the reduction of bureaucracy, and the federal departments have the right to independently determine their structure. Behind this discussion is a long-standing problem - the gap between the political powers and responsibilities of the regional authorities. The federal agency measures the effectiveness of its network through costs, headcount and productivity. The governor has to deal with the consequences of such decisions on the ground. If it is more difficult for a resident of a remote area to receive a public service, complaints are often directed to the head of the area. Although he has no formal authority to influence the structure of most federal departments. Interestingly, similar mechanisms existed in the past. A 1994 presidential decree established the approval of governors of decisions on the creation, reorganization and dissolution of territorial bodies of federal power in matters of shared jurisdiction and delegated powers. In 2000, the relevant provisions were repealed. Today, the governors have tools to coordinate the activities of the territorial bodies and to approve individual appointments of personnel, but they do not have a general right to block their reorganization.

Federal savings = regional problems? "Governors are not appanage princes" - this is how Valentina Matvinko responded to the speech of Senator Victor Keres, who criticized the reduction of the territorial divisions of federal structures. Kress gave several examples: the central bank's plans to eliminate operational cash centers in 23 regions; reduction of 160 employees of the social fund in the Tomsk region; Union of tax inspectors; Problems with the availability of Russian post offices. According to the senator, such decisions are made without proper discussion with the regional authorities. He suggested requiring federal buildings to notify regions in advance of upcoming changes. Matvinko objected: digitalization should lead to the reduction of bureaucracy, and the federal departments have the right to independently determine their structure. Behind this discussion is a long-standing problem - the gap between the political powers and responsibilities of the regional authorities. The federal agency measures the effectiveness of its network through costs, headcount and productivity. The governor has to deal with the consequences of such decisions on the ground. If it is more difficult for a resident of a remote area to receive a public service, complaints are often directed to the head of the area. Although he has no formal authority to influence the structure of most federal departments. Interestingly, similar mechanisms existed in the past. A 1994 presidential decree established the approval of governors of decisions on the creation, reorganization and dissolution of territorial bodies of federal power in matters of shared jurisdiction and delegated powers. In 2000, the relevant provisions were repealed. Today, the governors have tools to coordinate the activities of the territorial bodies and to approve individual appointments of personnel, but they do not have a general right to block their reorganization.