That engaging in politics in Budva has become financially profitable is confirmed by the intention of the Municipality of Budva to increase the salaries of councilors by almost double, and to allocate substantial monthly sums to parties for the rental of business premises and the salaries of employees in their local headquarters.
The councilors will be presented at a session of the local parliament, which was urgently scheduled for June 25 by the President of the Municipal Assembly. Petar Odžić There will be a decision on remuneration and other income for councillors and members of permanent working bodies, which stipulates that councillors will in future receive 500 euros per month, instead of the previous 300 euros.
According to the decision, which "Vijesti" has had access to, and which will most likely receive the green light from the entire parliamentary assembly, which has a total of 33 councilors, the 500 euro fee is only an initial figure, as other fees are also foreseen for membership in parliamentary committees and other working bodies, which will further increase their monthly income.
This will provide Budva's councilors, who meet at most once a month, as it is the practice to hold parliamentary sessions once a month, with a good "financial refresh".
"The councillor's allowance is set at a net amount of 500 euros per month. The right to compensation for members of the Collegium of the President of the Assembly is 75 euros per month for the president and 60 euros per member. The right to compensation for participation in the work of permanent working bodies of the Assembly is 60 euros per month for the president, 35 euros per member of a permanent working body and 60 euros per member of two or more permanent working bodies. The amount of compensation for councillors who attend a marriage ceremony is 50 euros and is paid per day of attendance," the decision states.
The reasons for making this decision, as stated by the local administration, are that the last time councilors' compensation was changed was in 2013, and that it is being adjusted to the minimum wage.
Next Wednesday, councilors will also decide on other benefits for the work of their political parties. Namely, the agenda also includes a decision on determining the monthly financial compensation for renting business premises necessary for the work of political parties and groups of voters participating in the work of the Municipal Assembly, and funds for financing employees in councilors' clubs.
"The amount of the monthly fee is set at 750 euros per beneficiary (political party and group of voters), with an additional 75 euros per councilor, political party or group of voters to which the councilor belonged at the time of the constitution of the assembly," the decision states.
The decision also stipulates that each councilor's club participating in the local parliament is entitled to an amount of 500 euros for financing employees.
"When determining the amount of the fee, the trends in the average rent for business premises in the territory of the municipality of Budva were taken into account. The decision also regulates the obligation of the local government towards the councilors' clubs, which refers to financing employees in the councilors' clubs in an acceptable amount," the explanatory statement to the decision states.
A fine of 250 euros for a councilor who was removed from a session
The decision also provides for fines if a councilor violates the rules and statute of the local parliament.
"A councillor who has been issued a warning measure shall be fined 10 percent of the councillor's allowance. A councillor who has been issued two warnings measures during the same session shall be fined 20 percent of the councillor's allowance. A councillor who has been issued a measure of deprivation of the right to speak shall be fined 40 percent of the councillor's allowance.
"A councilor who has been ordered to be removed from a session will be fined 50 percent of the councilor's allowance. If a councilor has been ordered to pay multiple fines for violating the order at a session of the Municipal Assembly, the fines are not added together, but only the highest fine is applied," the decision states.
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