LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM IN TURKEY AND THE 5393 LAW: THE FIELD RESEARCH ABOUT THE PERCEPTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM IN MUŞ AND BİTLİS PROVINCES

It has become necessary for the Republic of Turkey to make changes in its local government systems in order to keep up with the global improvement in politics, economy, democracy, and administration. In accordance with this assessment, Turkey has taken important steps along with a local government reform in 2004. The topic and the essence of our research captures the municipal officers’ level of perception of the changes made in the Municipal Law in respect of this local government reform. Our research has shown that the reforms were welcomed and explicitly supported by the officers. The benefits of the reforms and changes were also highlighted in our research; it was concluded that the changes in municipal law aided in resolving the municipality’s problems. Therefore, local governments should continue to implement changes in their municipal law. The research also allowed us to conclude that although the duties and responsibilities of municipalities have increased in amount, income has not increased in the same proportion.