Due obligations for payment of the Municipality of Ulcinj and its public enterprises and institutions to the state reached the amount of 727.540 euros, of which 475.128 thousand have been paid, while the amount of 252.412 thousand has not yet been paid.
These are the data that were officially announced to "Vijesta" from the Tax Administration (TA).
"There is an obvious delay in the settlement of current obligations and all measures will be taken to collect claims from this category of taxpayers in accordance with the Law on Tax Administration," said the PU.
EUR 5,93 million was the reprogrammed debt of the Municipality of Ulcinj after signing the contract with the Ministry of Finance
It was explained that in order to collect the tax debt, compulsory collection measures were implemented and that more than 70 euros were recently collected from the Ulcinj utility company by blocking the giro account.
The director of Ulcinj Komunalno Skender Kalezić confirmed to "Vijesta" that the company was blocked for ten days due to obligations to the Tax Administration.
"We settled the debt with our own money," Kalezić said.
The PU reminded that by signing the contract with the Ministry of Finance, the Municipality of Ulcinj with local public enterprises and institutions - Water and Sewerage, Communal Services, Center for Culture, RTV Ulcinj, Agency for Construction and Development of Ulcinj, PE for Breeding and Wildlife Protection" and Day care center for children and youth with developmental disabilities "Sirena", whose tax obligations it took over, reprogrammed the tax debt in the total amount of 5,93 million euros.
"According to this, until now the obligation in the amount of 727.540 euros has been due, of which 475.128 euros have been paid, while the amount of 252.412 euros has not yet been paid. In addition to the above-mentioned obligations, there is an evident delay in the settlement of current obligations with the Municipality of Ulcinj, and with local public companies and institutions in the settlement of current obligations and deferred obligations in accordance with the Law on Reprogramming of Tax Claims", said the PU.
Individual data on the tax debt for the Municipality and its public companies and institutions were not provided to the "News", with the explanation that they represent a tax secret according to Article 16 of the Law on Tax Administration.
According to "Vijesti" information, the financial situation is difficult in all other public companies and institutions, so the fate of the local utility company is certain to await them.
Nevertheless, the trend of employment continued in the Municipality, and for an indefinite period of time, despite the excess number of employees, which was confirmed by the President of the Municipality, Ljoro Nrekić, on several occasions.
The PU said that within the limits of legal authority, they continuously report to the public about the progress of municipalities' obligations and the meetings that are held, all with the aim of ensuring a greater degree of tax discipline.
"Bearing in mind that the Municipality of Ulcinj, as well as several other municipalities, experienced a delay in the settlement of obligations, as well as that the PU made maximum efforts not to allow the payment of net wages to employees in any municipality or public company, which would create a new tax debt, it is insisted on the rationalization of the number of jobs and the establishment of sustainable operations and servicing of tax obligations. To that end, several meetings were held with the management of the municipality and local public companies, as well as with the Association of Municipalities".
They point out that despite the difficult financial situation in which many municipalities found themselves due to the bad tourist season caused by the pandemic, which the PU understands, it must be emphasized that for this category of taxpayers, as for all others, available measures will be taken to collect the tax debt prescribed by the Law on Tax Administration.
Elezagić: The authorities are responsible for the fact that we are the only poor municipality on the coast
Economist Skender Elezagić claims for "Vijesti" that the economic reality in Ulcinj is certainly even bleaker than it seems.
He emphasized "that it is important to say that it is not like this only because of the failed tourist season".
"The lack of any vision of the economic development of Ulcinj by the locals and the state authorities has turned a promising city with the greatest development potential in Montenegro into the only underdeveloped municipality on the Montenegrin coast. I am afraid that the coming months will show all the devastating consequences that only one failed tourist season can leave on such a weak economic structure," said Elezagić.
It is estimated, as he stated, that in Ulcinj only 10-20 percent of income from tourists was realized this season compared to last year and a drop in income by 50 to 60 million, which will leave serious consequences for the business of the trade sector and service activities.
"All this will lead to a reduction in the number of employees and a drop in wages. Bearing in mind that both business entities and citizens of Ulcinj are significantly burdened with credit obligations, it is certain that there will be serious difficulties in regular servicing".
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