Financial structure and problems of the municipalities in turkey; The case of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality

This study aims to examine the income and expenses of the municipalities in Turkey and provide solution suggestions to the municipalities' financial problems. For this purpose, the income and expenses of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality over the period of 2014-2018 are analyzed. The results of the analyses show that over the period in question, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality is highly dependent on central administration that its self-revenues are substantially low. The municipality does not have proportionate sources of income and the expenditures are realized in a way that leads to inefficiency. Accordingly, this study suggests solutions mainly about increasing the self-income of municipalities in order to decrease their connection with the central administration and increase their efficieny. Key Words: Decentralization, Local Administrations, Municipality, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, Financial Structure