This is half a million euros more than in 2025, when such a subsidy was allocated for the first time. As reported by the Latvian Television program "De facto", the additional funds are mainly spent on everyday needs. In mid-October, the Cabinet of Ministers and the Latvian Association of Local Governments signed a protocol agreement on the budget for 2026. The document provides for additional funding for five municipalities located on the border with Russia and Belarus - a total of 3 million euros. "Someone made a rather interesting decision about the distribution principle. It would be fairer to divide either proportionally to the population or equally among all municipalities," said Janis Trupovnieks, chairman of the Balvi County Council (Latvian Green Party). In both 2025 (2.5 million euros) and 2026 (3 million euros), the funds are distributed among the five municipalities based on a single criterion - proportionally to the length of the section of the external EU border that runs through the municipality. The longer the border, the larger the allocated amount. For example, the Augšdaugava region, which has a 38 km border, received 220,000 euros in 2025. The Alūksne region with almost 55 km received 319,000 euros. The Balvi region (83 km) received nearly half a million, the Krāslava region (112 km) received 653,000 euros, and the largest allocation went to the Ludza region: 822,000 euros for 141 km of border. In 2026, the amounts will increase proportionally, and for instance, the Ludza region will receive nearly a million euros. The Augšdaugava region, which received the most modest subsidy, used the additional funds to establish a municipal police force. Having a larger budget allowed for other changes as well. The remuneration regulations removed the requirement that salaries could only be reviewed if there were free funds in the budget. Since September, salaries for the council leadership and the hourly rate for deputies have been increased in the region. Subsidies to municipalities on the external EU border are not provided as targeted - that is, they do not imply mandatory control over the use of funds for specific tasks. This means that how to spend the money and how to report on its use is decided by the local authorities themselves.