It seems that no one is already asking the popular question in the mid-90s about what reforms are. Over the past 15 years, this concept itself has lost the familiar sound of “radical transformations” and has become consonant with the expectation of empty changes. If something is changing, then somewhere there, “above”, while at the grassroots level, no changes occur. And instead of fundamental changes, people feel the complexity of life and a waste of time.
Now we need to look for new answers to the old question of what reforms are. Transformations in the medical sphere, in the field of social and pension provision, come to the fore. However, the reform of housing and communal services remains the most pressing problem. It is no secret that pipes, water supply, sewage, electricity, in a word, public utilities as a whole have remained unchanged since Soviet times. Communications have not been repaired for several decades, more than 80% are not only physically, but also morally obsolete. As the still existing post-Soviet form of government is outdated, in essence it is ineffective and does not meet the requirements of the time. Paradox: Housing and communal services remains the only sector in the Russian economy where small islands of private capital feel very uncomfortable in the ocean of monopoly-state pressure on any initiatives to make a difference.
By the way, about the changes. The answer to the question of what reform is is quite simple. These are changes to the “rules of the game" in a foreign field, which lead to fundamental changes. For example, the reform of education, which involves the transfer of educational autonomy to universities. That is, it is not a matter of solving current financial problems, finding funds for modernizing communal networks or building new modern neighborhoods. If only because it is impossible. According to official figures alone, the population pays 1.3 trillion annually for non-rendered services. rubles. And the initial repair requires 9 trillion. By this logic, it turns out that the cost of housing services should increase 9 times! And the construction of new houses instead of "Khrushchev" will require almost 25 years. So, the new buildings will age, not having time to "be born". Not to mention what to do during these 25 years, moreover, not in large cities. Unfortunately, bureaucratic Russia is a big country …
As a result, the answer to the question of what reforms are lies in a slightly different plane. This is a requirement of state-guaranteed private property rights and the demonopolization of the entire communal economy. The government, judging by the recent decision of the State Council, still intends to demonopolize the management of public utilities, transferring almost all communications to private concessionaires. However, management is not property. Moreover, ownership of the land on which these communications are laid. And it turns out that instead of one state monopoly two are born: bureaucratic and private. With different functional and market content. And it is not possible to keep the price increase for the same housing and communal services under these conditions.
In addition, there is another problem. Nobody, probably, already really argues whether homeowners associations are needed or not. Law is law. Another thing is what to do if the HOA does not become the property of the whole complex of communications, the local area and the land on which the houses that are included are located. Without these key elements, it makes no sense to create a partnership. After all, it is obvious that the housing and communal services reform is pulling for itself both land reform and the reform of ATU and the budget system. And this is a fundamental change …
