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Starosta/ˈstɑːrɒstə/[1] orstarost (Cyrillic:старост/а,Latin:capitaneus, German:Starost, Hauptmann) is a communityelder in some Slavic lands.
TheSlavic root of "starost" translates as "senior". Since theMiddle Ages, it has designated an official in a leadership position in a range of civic and social contexts throughoutCentral andEastern Europe. In reference to a municipality, astarosta was historically a senior royal administrative official, equivalent to acounty sheriff orseneschal, and analogous to agubernator. InPoland, astarosta administeredcrown territory or a district called astarostwo.[2]
In the early Middle Ages, astarosta could head a settled urban or rural community or other community, as in the case of a church starosta or anartel starosta. A starosta also functioned as amaster of ceremonies.[citation needed]
In theCzech Republic andSlovakiastarosta is the title of amayor of a town or village. Mayors of major cities use the titleprimátor. The term corresponds to the Austrian or GermanBürgermeister.[citation needed]
Historically, the title "Starost" was also used in parts of theHoly Roman Empire. The German wordStarostei referred to the office or crown land district of a Starost. In German, the title starost/starosta is also translated asHauptmann and analogous to a gubernator.[citation needed]
In theKingdom of Poland and thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Starosta was from the 15th century the office of a territorial administrator, usually conferred on a local landowner and member of the nobility,Szlachta. Until theThird Partition of Poland in 1795, there were two types of Starosta:
There were alsogeneral starosts who were provincial governors.[3] All starosts disappeared after theKosciuszko Insurrection in 1794 and were not reinstated until afterWorld War I when their role was altered.
In contemporaryPoland,starosta designates a district administrator, who heads the district administrationstarostwo and manages apowiat district, akin to the leader of a town or rural council.[4]
In theUkrainian State during 1918,gubernatorial andpovitian starostas controlled who represented the central government in regions.[2]
In 2014–2015,administrative and territorial reform began inUkraine, during which adjacent territorial communities began to unite into largeramalgamated territorial hromadas. In order for the interests of residents of all villages, towns and cities in united territorial communities to be properly represented, the law "On Voluntary Unification of Territorial Communities" adopted on February 5, 2015, introduced the institute of starosta, who were to be elected by residents of the respective settlements and represent their interests in the executive bodies of the council of the amalgamated territorial hromada.[5][6]
The mayor, in particular, is a member of the executive committee of the amalgamated territorial hromada council ex officio, he must help the residents of his settlements with the preparation of submitting documents to local self-government bodies, participate in the preparation of the amalgamated territorial hromada budget in the part that concerns his settlements, and also perform other duties specified in Regulations on the starosta, which were approved by the council of the amalgamated territorial hromada.[6] In particular, the council of the amalgamated territorial hromada could authorize the starosta to perform notarial acts on his own, or to transfer relevant documents from residents to the executive body of the council and back.[7]
By the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers dated July 22, 2016, the starosta was assigned to the fifth category of positions in local self-government bodies, and later by the law dated February 9, 2017 to the sixth category. This made it possible to streamline the structure and terms of payment for the newly elected starostas.[8][9]
On February 9, 2017, a law was adopted that more clearly defined the status and powers of the starosta. Also, this law introduced the concept ofstarosta okruhs (elderships)―the territory on which the starost is elected and over which his powers extend. The starosta okruhs were to be formed by the amalgamated territorial hromada council and could consist of several settlements, in addition to the administrative center of the amalgamated territorial hromada.[10][11][12] It was also fixed for the starostas the right to a guaranteed speech at the meetings of the amalgamated territorial hromada council and its standing commissions on issues related to their starosta okruh, as well as added control functions over the use of communal property objects and the state of improvement in their okruh.[12][13]
According to the monitoring of theMinistry of Communities and Territories Development regarding the implementation of the reform of local self-government and territorial organization of power in Ukraine, as of October 1, 2023, only 7,567 starostas were approved by the local council, while 7,567 starosta okruhs were allocated as part of territorial communities throughout Ukraine.[14]
Starosta is an official elected position in manyOrthodox Christian churches, especially inRussia,Ukraine, and otherSlavic-speaking countries.[16] Though the position varies depending on the diocese and jurisdiction, theStarosta is generally responsible for housekeeping matters within the parish, facilitating logistics for services and cross processions, maintaining the physical church building and grounds, and ordering candles and other supplies for worship.[17]
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