The Association of Municipalities and Towns in Slovenia (SOS), one of the interest groups, advocates for the government to approve a lump sum of 536 euros, which is EUR 3.5 more than the government is willing to accept. According to state secretary Marija Janc, the Ministry of Finance "has been negotiating and trying to draw nearer to the municipalities' expectations, and that's how we've come to three euros - which means that some extra money has been offered to the municipalities."

It has been suggested that the government could raise its offer by half a euro, which would cost an additional million euros per year. However, the municipality association leadership deems this to be too little and has appealed to the government to compromise with local communicates the same way it did with trade unions. Jože Kužnik, the mayor of Polzela, adds: "It's a fact that negotiating with several thousand trade unions and negotiating with the 212 mayors that govern Slovenian municipalities are two completely different things."

Mayors of municipalities in SOS have also emphasized that the compromise of 536 euros would still not suffice for the cost of all services that municipalities are bound by law to take care of. The mayor of Slovenska Bistrica, Ivan Žagar, warns that "municipalities simply won't be in the position to carry out all basic functions they are bound to. This means day care in kindergartens, social and other areas. Not to mention investments and regular maintenance of infrastructure." Another interest group, an association of municipalities called ZOS, would be willing to accept the potential proposal of EUR 533.5 in lump-sum transfers.

T. K. B., Danijel Poslek (Radio Slovenija); translated by K. Z.