Trends in Social Services: Opinions of the Municipal Management in Smaller and Larger Municipalities

Abstract

Social services encompass a vast range of activities which gain in importance at the population of developed countries continues to age significantly and becomes more and more diverse in increasing number of aspects. Increasing expenditures on social services strain the public budgets and, in some countries, municipalities are obliged to secure provision of social services for their citizens. The paper deals with municipal perceptions of the social services which are offered in their territories to various group of social services clients. As per two stage survey the municipalities are moderately satisfied with the social services provided in their territory. Significant difference may be recorded among smaller and larger municipalities in which the first tend to perceive the social services provided in their territories as less sufficient, especially for the client groups of senior citizens, the disabled people and those recently released from prisons. Small and larger municipalities alike are aware of ageing of the population and it he future expect increase in demands for senior-oriented social services which the small municipalities perceive as an issue to satisfactorily provide tin the future.