The budget of the Municipality of Bar for the year 2025 in the amount of 63.424.000 was adopted at today's session of the Bar Municipal Assembly (SO) by the votes of 19 members of the government, while two members of the opposition were against and five abstained.
The proposal for the Budget Decision was presented by the Secretary of the Secretariat for Finance, Ivana Backović, and the Secretary of the Secretariat for Property and Investments, Stefan Šušter.
The members of the opposition emphasized that every budget of the Municipality of Bar is a record because millions are constantly poured from one year to the next, and this year that figure is particularly large due to the 20 million that the local administration collected from the company "Sonuba Montenegro" according to the court verdict of the Basic Court in Bar for communal equipment in Maljevik with interest.
The government's approvers were satisfied with the budget proposal and considered that it was constructively and evenly distributed. They also praised the large allocations for capital projects and investments that will significantly contribute to the development of the city.
They also had words of praise for the funds planned to support women's entrepreneurship, young farmers and other subsidies.
The President of Bar Municipality, Dušan Raičević, answered the questions of councilors who were most interested in the construction of local roads and boulevards, water systems, hospitals closer to the center, current expenditures...
The only amendment to the Decision on the budget was submitted by Milan Nešković on behalf of Democratic Montenegro, which proposes the deletion of road S3 according to the DUP "Topolica IV", which the residents of Bjeliš objected to and today protested in front of the Municipality of Bar.
"Appreciating the demands of the locals, the need for road construction, as well as considering the saving of citizens' money that is planned for expropriation, we consider it justified to remove this item from the budget until a compromise solution is found on this issue," said Nešković.
He asked the councilors to put themselves in the position of these people whose houses, which existed long before the adoption of the DUP, will be demolished and that abstaining from this amendment is the same as being against it.
Eight councilors from the opposition voted for his amendment, four councilors from the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) were against, while the rest, 14 of them, abstained.
Valentina Minic from Democratic Montenegro, discussing the budget of Bar Municipality for next year, said that she does not think that this budget will bring any big changes in Bar and that there will be big investments because the capital budget overflows from year to year.
Milena Božović from the Biram Bar party said that it is good that the municipality has a development budget, but that they must not forget about the social aspect and the needs of the most vulnerable citizens of Bar, and that investments in local plans concerning socially vulnerable groups, youth, minorities... should be increased.
She pointed out that the funds transferred from the previous year amount to 30 million euros and represent 40 percent of the total funds, which, according to her, means that the funds were not well planned because they transferred 15 million last year as well.
"During the adoption of the budget for 2024, you assured us that these investments would be visible in 2024. Now you say the same, only we have to wait another year," said Božović.
Drago Drobnjak from Socialdemokrat assessed that 40 million out of almost 64 million planned for capital projects represents a record amount and a quality basis for developing and improving the quality of life in Bar.
He praised the increase in finances for the "Bar Women with Big Hearts" who run the national kitchen from 50 to 62 thousand euros, as well as the increase in transfers for individuals, institutions and the non-governmental sector.
Omer Vukić from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) assessed that the Budget Decision is the most important document adopted by the Council of Ministers. He was surprised by the fact that only one amendment was submitted to it, so it can be judged that this document is very good.
"We won't be able to look at figures like this in the near future. This budget is, of course, large mainly because of the debt collection from Maljevik and the fact that 64 percent goes to the capital budget is very commendable", he assessed and added that it is also demanding for local administration.
Radomir Novaković from Biram Bar asked how much money the citizens of Bar spent on financing political parties in November, and Raičević answered that it was almost 48 thousand euros.
Emir Peričić (DPS) especially praised the fact that most of the available funds are earmarked for the capital part, while a smaller amount is earmarked for the current budget and earnings.
He compared it with the state budget and said that out of almost 64 million, the Municipality of Bar allocated 40 million for capital projects, while the state budget is planned at nearly four billion euros, of which the capital part is about 280 million.
The most money for capital projects
Next year, the local administration of Bar will have 63.424.000 euros at its disposal, and 64 percent is earmarked for investment and development projects.
Thus, EUR 40.450.000 is planned for capital budget expenditures, ie capital projects, and EUR 22.974.000 for current budget expenditures.
More than 40 million euros for the capital budget were distributed by planning 2.700.000 euros for debt repayment, 14 million euros for local roads, 800 million euros for lighting and electricity supply, half a million euros for project technical documentation for local infrastructure, XNUMX million and XNUMX thousand euros it is planned for sewage and collectors.
Five million is planned for the purchase of land, costs for contractual obligations are estimated at 3,5 million, and expenses for construction facilities are estimated at three million, two million are intended for equipment and three million for investment maintenance.
Other capital expenditures, under which are classified the costs of EU and IPA project financing, for which 250 thousand euros have been allocated.
In the coming year, it is planned to create project technical documentation for the project of the national aquatic center with accompanying content, i.e. a closed pool, followed by the construction of the Bar-Rumija-Skadar Lake cable car.
The reconstruction of city roads and landscaping and the reconstruction of Borska Street are also planned, and the reconstruction of the Castle of King Nikola continues with the arrangement of the palace park and the reconstruction of the Prince's Garden.
The City Hall will be built in Stari Bar for the needs of the administration and the organization of civic and cultural events.
The projects that are implemented in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro are the completion of the construction of the Day Care Center with the procurement of special equipment and funds, the completion of the construction of the sports hall in the local community of Mrkojevići and the furnishing of the interior.
In cooperation with the Government, a new kindergarten will be built and the coastal areas and the square in Sutomor will be reconstructed.
When it comes to roads, the reconstruction of the regional road route R28 Bar-Sutomore-Virpazar is planned, and the estimated value of the investment is 64 million euros.
13 million is planned for the reconstruction of the regional road Bar-Kamenički most-Vladimirske Kruta.
13,2 million euros are earmarked for the reconstruction and construction of the road in Čanj.
For salaries and contributions over five million euros
Current budget expenditures are planned in the amount of 22.974.000 euros. 5.708.000 euros will be spent on gross wages and contributions, and 5.290.726 is planned for institutions, individuals, NGOs and the public sector.
Five million and 205 thousand is intended for transfers to companies. 65,5 thousand for debt repayment and 700 million for repayment of obligations from the previous period and another XNUMX thousand reserves.
347 is intended for other personal income, expenses for materials will be 808.500 euros, and 247 for services.
Expenditures for current maintenance will amount to 635.000, and rent will amount to 15.000. 770 is intended for subsidies, and other expenditures are planned at 881, while 293.500 euros are intended for social protection rights.
One million and 800 thousand is planned for the improvement of sports and activities in sports, and the Municipality of Bar will support entrepreneurs with half a million euros in 2025. They will support businessmen with 230 and they have earmarked another 40 for craftsmen.
When it comes to local businesses, the Municipality of Bar will allocate EUR 150 for the JU Day Center for Children with Disabilities, EUR 120 for the House of Olives, EUR 95 for the Parking Service, and EUR 570 for Water and Sewerage.
360 will go to Radio Bar, 375 to Lovstva and 550 to the sports center. The Cultural Center of Bar will receive the most, 870 euros, and Municipal Services will receive two million and 115 euros.
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