Municipal expenditure efficiency and local sustainable development: evidence from infrastructure and environmental outcomes in the Świętokrzyskie region

The aim of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of municipal environmental expenditures in supporting infrastructure development and environmental resilience across municipalities, with particular attention to spatial and temporal relationships among these dimensions. The analysis is based on data from municipalities in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, covering the period 2014–2024. The study employs a quantitative approach incorporating synthetic indicators, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, scatter plots, and spatial analysis techniques, including Moran’s spatial autocorrelation. The results reveal persistent spatial polarisation, a weak association between expenditure levels and environmental outcomes, and a significant mediating role played by municipal infrastructure. Moreover, a negative relationship is observed between the level of infrastructure development and environmental resilience, suggesting the presence of a spatial trade-off between technical development and natural capital. These findings suggest that increasing expenditure alone does not guarantee improved environmental performance and highlight the importance of accounting for territorial characteristics and spatial factors when designing local sustainable development policies. The obtained results indicate the need to consider spatial conditions and delayed investment effects in order to improve the efficiency of environmental expenditures.