Under the conditions of the decentralization reform, the budget equalization system in Ukraine underwent significant changes, which took place in terms of the transition from vertical equalization of expenditures to horizontal equalization of revenues. Today, a mixed budget equalization system is being formed in Ukraine, with an emphasis on horizontal equalization of revenues and the use of separate tools for vertical equalization of expenditures. The main problems of budget equalization in Ukraine include the insufficient amount of own revenues of local budgets, the high level of dependence of local budgets on transfers from the state budget, the insufficient justification of the procedure for calculating the tax capacity indicator, the low level of financial autonomy of communities, the lack of a clear division of powers between state authorities and local governments, transfer of powers to the level of local government without adequate financial support, significant differentiation of regions by the level of socio-economic development. The problem of restoring the district level of local government is in a “frozen” state. The budget equalization system of Ukraine should be improved in terms of creating equal financial opportunities for access to public services. In the medium- and long-term perspective, it is advisable to strengthen the role of expenditure equalization tools, supplement the representative tax system with a number of taxes (property tax, single tax, excise duty), create an independent agency for periodic analysis of the state of the budget equalization system and develop proposals for its reform, restore the practice of using agreements on interregional development, agreements on regional development, and programs for overcoming the depressed state of the territory. The new equalization system should be based on state service standards. With the transition to medium-term planning of local budgets, it is necessary to ensure the stability and predictability of the volume of transfers to local authorities and the transparency of the order of their distribution. 

budget equalization, local government, standards of public services, transfers, distribution of powers, differentiation of own revenues