Priorities and tools for the transformation of municipal governance in the context of the new reform of local self-government

One of the priority areas in the development of municipal formations in the context of the new reform of local self-government in Russia is the transformation of the system of local self-government, including further consolidation of territorial systems at the municipal level. These issues are to a certain extent reflected in scientific studies and in the research on agglomeration processes as well. At the same time, in the methodological aspect, insufficient attention is paid to the transformation of municipal governance. We believe it is necessary to focus not only on general patterns, but also on the specifics of development of municipal formations located around a large city; these provisions have determined the relevance of the work. The purpose of our study is to develop a methodological approach to substantiating priorities and tools for the transformation of municipal governance in the context of the new reform of local self-government. To this end, we use methods such as analysis and synthesis, structural, functional, monographic, statistical methods, review of municipal practices, etc. Scientific novelty of the research lies in the development of a methodological approach to substantiating priorities and tools for the transformation of municipal governance in the context of the new reform of local self-government. We show that transformation methods such as unification of rural settlements and transition to a single-level system of organization of local self-government, transfer of powers from the level of rural settlement to the level of municipal district, development of inter-municipal cooperation provide positive socio-economic effects for municipal formations. The findings of our work can be replicated and used in the practice of managing the development of municipal formations in Russia; they can also serve as a basis for further research on this topic concerning the improvement of the management system at the local level.