DPS "refreshes" companies, Jovanović's in the red

Political decision of the President of the Municipality of Budva Nikola Jovanovic, Judging by the financial reports, handing over the management of certain municipal companies to once bitter political opponents, and now partners in local government, cadres of the Democratic Party of Socialists, proved to be the right decision, because all of those companies recovered financially and organizationally and achieved good business results.

Unlike them, municipal companies and institutions headed by members of Jovanović's political group "Budva Our City" cannot boast of good business performance, making losses.

This is confirmed by the financial reports, which "Vijesti" had access to, and which these companies and institutions submitted to the Tax Administration of Montenegro.

DPS took over a number of municipal enterprises in the middle of last year, when it officially began to enter power.

The best business result of all municipal companies was achieved by Parking Service, headed by a DPS employee, the director Dragan Pim, which, according to its financial report, ended last year with a profit of 514,924 euros. The company continued to do well, achieving better results than in 2024, when it was managed by the staff of the Socialist People's Party and ended the business year with a profit of 482 thousand euros.

The parking service can also boast that by introducing zoned parking, it has brought order to the city, although criticism can be heard from some addresses, however, there are currently parking spaces in the city. It remains to be seen what this will look like during the summer season, considering that the Municipality, despite its promises, has not built a single public garage.

A good business result, and above all progress in the organizational part, was achieved by the Public Utility Company, which is also managed by DPS staff, the director Marija Jovićević. The company that was struggling, both in financial problems and in the organization and maintenance of cleanliness in the city, which was why the city was covered in garbage, is now on a "green branch", and ended last year in the plus, as stated in the financial statement, of 41.743 euros. Although the Municipality has been giving millions from the city treasury in all the past years, that municipal company was also synonymous with poor organization, and numerous criticisms about maintaining cleanliness in the city. Now the Municipality boasts daily on social networks about the results of the work of the Municipal Company, announcing actions for the improvement and regular maintenance of the city.

On the other hand, Vodovod, which belongs to the political group "Budva our city", is the leader in terms of losses, and which, as stated in its financial statement, ended last year in the red by as much as 2.101.054 euros.

The company has practically continued a series of bad business years under the management of the personnel of that political group. According to the report submitted to the Tax Administration, the company had a deficit of as much as 1.455.517 euros in 2024. The total loss from previous years of this key company has now risen to 3,3 million euros. Sales revenue, as stated, is 6,2 million euros and is one million euros lower than in 2024. The expenses of the Waterworks last year for the payment of salaries, benefits and other personal expenses last year amounted to 4.399.929 euros.

The Budva Sports and Recreation Center, managed by the staff of "Budva our city", stabilized its operations last year, so this municipal company, which is predominantly financed from the city treasury, operated in the red by 40.608. The company, however, recorded losses from previous years totaling 181.680 euros.

The local public broadcaster Radio Television Budva, which is owned by the municipality, did not achieve a positive business result either. According to the financial statement published on the Tax Administration website, the local media outlet ended 2025 with a loss of 22.633 euros, which is a better business result than 2024, when a loss of 115.237 euros was recorded. When it comes to losses from previous years, they have now reached 460.689 euros.

The municipal company Otpadne vode, run by the “Budva naš grad” cadre, cannot boast of excellent results either. True, it ended last year with a profit of only 7.759 euros, unlike 2024, when it was run by the Democrat cadre, and when it operated in a profit of 136 thousand euros.

URA staff dismissed, but led well

The political dismissal of URA Civic Movement personnel from leading positions in the Mediterranean Sports Center and Funeral Services, after that party lost confidence in the current Mayor of the Municipality, Nikola Jovanović, although the Board of Directors of those companies explained the dismissal by alleged poor business results, is denied by the financial reports.

The Mediterranean Sports Center, as well as Funeral Services, led by URA staff Milica Ratknić and Slavica Todorović, ended last year with positive business results. MSC achieved a particularly excellent business result, so under Ratknić's leadership, the company ended up with a profit of 95 thousand euros, while in 2024, when it was managed by the staff of the Movement for Change, it was in the red by 68 thousand euros.

Funeral services also ended last year with a profit of 35.214 euros, achieving a better business result than in 2024, when positive business was 4.768 euros.