Battle in the budget? “We see an iceberg in the distance, Titanic is accelerated”

In January 2025, we published an article entitled “Polish officials on the verge of strength. This report says everything. ” The text in which we took into account the results of the report: “Ticking bomb in administration”, which was prepared by Publink, was widely heard. Therefore, we decided to explore the topic. In an interview with “Wprost” a few interesting, even key threads were moved by Mateusz Klupczyński – co -founder and president of the Publink board. A company that has been consulting for offices since 2009. Publink has been a technology company for several years, which provides software for more than half of local offices in Poland, maintaining mainly budget processes.

Jan Wojtal, “Wprost:” Who exactly is the treasurer in the commune or city office?

Mateusz Klupczyński, CEO Publink: A treasurer is no one other than the financial director of the office. The head of the village, mayor or president, needs the Treasurer’s signature under every contract where he incurss the commitment. The spending of the commune/voivodship budget depends on how this person is prepared.

Let’s get more broadly to the topic of the entire public administration. It’s no secret that earnings are the problem in the “budget”.

Since 2004, the minimum salary has increased 4.3 times, while 2.9 times in the budget. The lowest qualified work chases the budget. I think that in the near future, unfortunately, nothing will change. In the distance we see the iceberg, Titanic is accelerated, but we are busy with a ball. Young people are also missing to work.

There is a lack of young, current, “sown” officials will retire and soon there will be no one to work in offices.

The effect is what you say. When I started my professional career, the office was identified with stable employment, thirteen that you would not work and get a salary. Before entering the European Union, the pressure on the offices was large. It looks completely different for today. The offices have dozens of unresolved recruitment, there are no people willing to be positions, tax specialist.

Why is not always effective in offices?

The official often perceives his work through the prism of the binder – this is his world. I have been conducting research in offices for years and I asked employees many times: “How much do you have for today?” Answer? They pointed to a pile of papers on the desk – “that’s it”. When they organize them, they think the task is completed. There is a lack of awareness of effective work management, and this is not only due to age. In addition, we have low salaries for key positions – e.g. IT specialists or administrators. An example would be the office in which we studied working conditions – half of the employees complained about the poor internet. It turned out that the optical fiber could be connected for PLN 3,000, but no one decided on this expense. As a result of 100 people, the internet has complained for years.

What are the biggest challenges for offices?

Growing social expectations. We all got used to efficient service – the bank works quickly, the courier company will serve us satisfactorily, just as the cashier in a discount. Meanwhile, the offices often lack employees, and citizens expect professional service at the private sector level.

Big responsibility, low earnings – does it cause stress among officials?

Most officials do not feel much stress, because work in administration has a stable and predictable opinion. But the mayor, head of the commune or city president – yes. The treasurer is still controlled by the Supreme Audit Office, the Regional Accounting Chamber, councilors. Controls do not look for a properly done job, but irregularities. Even if 99 percent of things is fine, there will always be the 1 percent that will be pointed out.

What about cyber security? How big the problem is hacker attacks?

Increasing. There have been cases that municipalities transferred millions of zlotys to incorrect accounts due to an error or fraud. Officials act in a hurry, often confirm things by phone, and scammers use it. For example, someone impersonates a contractor and sends false invoices. These are individual cases, but very expensive and loud media.

The quality of services in offices is slowly improving?

Yes, but much slower than in the private sector. The competition counts there – if the insurance company does not provide good service, the customer will go to another. The offices do not have to compete – no one will change their place of residence, because he does not like the service in the local magistrate. This makes the changes less dynamic, because the only form of evaluation is the election.

In stores, banks or telecommunications operators, we often get SMS or emails with a request to assess the service. This is not in the offices.

Great attention. However, there are offices that are already beginning to implement simple satisfaction testing systems – e.g. throwing a number into a container with a red or green smiley face. However, this is rare. There is still no universal reflection on whether a citizen is satisfied with a visit to the office.

What can you do to make the offices work better?

There is no simple solution because the problem lies in organizational culture. You need to change the way of thinking about administration – this task for decades. Politicians often do not teach good management, but consolidate pathological patterns. For example, you have to scream to do the trick. Good organizations can determine priorities, have transparent procedures and work according to plan. Digitization could help – e.g. by creating joint service centers for several offices. The treasury has already done this: all seats in Poland are sent by one office in Opole. Such solutions could improve the work of offices throughout the country. But change of mentality is a process for years. What each of us can do – praise for good service and politely demand respect and professionalism.