After a 13:30 p.m. debate, the Capital City budget for 2025 was adopted with 10 votes in favor. The session continues tomorrow at XNUMX a.m.
The councilors did not, among other things, accept the DPS amendments on medically assisted fertilization for couples struggling with infertility, support for parents of newborns, and scholarships for the best students.
Borovinić Bojović noted that the Assembly did not accept the amendments of the Democratic Party of Socialists.
The councilors did not give the green light to the amendments of the Party of European Progress (SEP), the European Alliance, or the Preokret Movement. They also did not support the amendments of the civic movement URA.
Councilors are currently voting on amendments to the Capital City budget for the current year.
PES councilor Miloš Pižurica told the opposition not to worry about Mayor Mujović, because they provide him with continued support.
Mitar Vuković (Democrats) said that he was happy to hear the story that the proposed budget is a household budget.
"As a councilor, I have said many times that I look forward to every centimeter wherever work is done in Montenegro. The pipers have finally had their turn to receive a larger item from this capital budget. In the hope that we will realize this during our mandate, I warmly greet you all," said the councilor.
Borovinić Bojović told DPS councilor Stefan Ćulafić that there would be no break, and that the city parliament would continue working until late at night.
Tamara Crnogorčić (PES) said that the new city administration has initiated a dialogue with the residents of Botuni regarding the collector and "she is certain that the new administration will come up with the right solution for the citizens."
"So that we can finally have the collector issue resolved," said Crnogorčić.
Adi Jakupović (DPS) said he was glad that the amendment to support the shelter for abandoned dogs was passed.
"By accepting this amendment and allocating an additional 70.000 euros... I am glad that this amendment was adopted," he said.
European Progress Party councilor Ilija Mugoša said that very few foreign budget proposals are dedicated to explaining revenues.
"The value of the disputes is around 118 million euros. This means that this amount will potentially be collected in 2025, 2026 or 2027. What I see as a good side of the budget is the wastewater treatment plant. I believe that this is one of the capital projects that will measure the success of this city government," he said.
New councilor of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), Milena Jovović, said that it is unknown whether and for what the premises of the Health Center are being used.
Mirjana Radulović (DPS) said that "in the world she belongs to, there are no divisions or auctions."
"When we talk about athletes and workers and everyone who benefits from and applies sport, I would like to speak with special respect... We should support our basketball and handball players every day and at every step. All of this is Podgorica," the opposition councilor emphasized.
Anđela Mićović (PES) welcomed the decision to form a city choir.
"Citizens will be informed in a timely manner about the formation of the city choir and how to join it," she said.
She said that attention should be paid to "those municipalities where the white plague reigns."
"You should ask for an increase in compensation in those municipalities where you (DPS) exercise power.... Bearing in mind that areas with negative natural growth are linked to the north of Montenegro, we should think in that direction. Those areas will remain empty," said councilor Mićović.
She replied to Ćulafić that no one had written her a speech, and that she was "literate and smart enough to do it herself."
Perić (Pokret Preokret) said that the budget contains several warnings that are "even for the state level".
"This is a very conservatively planned budget... You are transferring 19 million euros to companies that should generate income. We are giving them 19 million euros. There is a constant transfer of over 30 million euros... That is the picture we now have as a budget proposal," he pointed out.
PES councilor Renata Gojković said that employment must be transparent and based on merit.
Mujović said that art is a "great thing" and that "we should move in the direction of strengthening it."
Ćulafić (DPS) said that the ruling majority is quietly calling for systemic solutions.
"As DPS, we have extremely good cooperation and contacts with councilor clubs from the region. We monitor what their councilor clubs are doing and in those consultations we look at what we can apply here. Regarding student transportation and the decision that we jointly adopted in 2023. In all modern European cities, the education of public transport users is starting from the youngest age. It is good to stimulate our youngest fellow citizens to use public transport," the opposition councilor assessed.
Vuković (URA) suggested that the documents they receive are not in Open Data format. She pointed out that this is the standard of the modern world and would enable easier searching.
Perić (Pokret Preokret) told Mitar Šušić that "no one's is forever, so neither will yours." He also told him that he was behaving like a DPS councilor from the previous period.
"Give us back the seats on the committees that you stole. Your kind of cynicism is your culture," Perić said.
DPS councilor Žaklina Oštir said that she would like to see more talk about art and culture in the city parliament.
The councilor of the Europe Now Movement reminded that no one harbors animosity towards the "Budućnost" club and said:
"I assure you and I'm sure you know that you have people who really love sports. I've been following sports clubs for many decades... We want sports events to continue to happen. Sports clubs will have one great partner."
Klikovac (DPS) said that free funds for pensioners were not proposed in the budget.
"You have the text of the decision. You decided not to put it on the agenda, it's not what we talked about at previous assembly sessions...", he said.
Mugoša emphasized that the worst thing is "when money is lying on a pallet."
"It is better to pay more and finish the job than to have 20 or 30 million 'eaten up' by inflation. You (Mujović) are among the five most powerful people in this country. Until yesterday, you were a minister. You must use all your authority to complete the projects. If you achieve this - we will congratulate you and say that we were wrong," Mugoša said.
According to him, it is nice when the city receives donations, and added that someone who is good "does not need donations."
Arsović (DPS) emphasized that the budget "cannot be called domestic."
"I tried to find out from the draft budget itself who these funds were allocated to... I would like all the increases to be shown so that we can believe it. What sounds even worse to us is why you rejected our amendments. We had a situation last year where 'Putevi' purchased six used buses. In addition to the fact that the tender procedure was violated, I would like to point out to you (Mujović) that six buses were purchased last year. They traveled up to 900.000 kilometers," said Arsović.
He said that these buses were purchased from Switzerland and said that the buses were from 2007.
Ranka Otašević (PzP) said that entrepreneurship should be particularly improved.
"My feeling is that we should be grateful to Secretary Špadijer, who took on the responsibility of managing Podgorica's finances during a difficult period. During 2024, the budget was preserved, regardless of the fact that these funds are being transferred...", assessed Otašević.
DPS councilor Stefan Šaponjić said that "the property tax in 2022 was 11 million, and "now it is 15 and a half million euros."
"This budget has increased in large part and this commendable amount is based on the levies we have imposed on citizens. When the amount of 38 million euros is added to that, we know that this budget has not gained new value...", said Šaponjić, adding that the Capital City has better resources to achieve its budget capacities.
European Union councilor Budimir Mugoša said that the worst option for local government is not to spend all the funds.
"We also have a third situation in which we do not have enough revenue and that is difficult to explain. It is enough to just increase the levy. For some results to be relevant, you have to apply them under the same conditions. It is not good when the budget is not spent," Mugoša assessed.
Stefan Vešović (Prava Crna Gora) said that the amendments should be largely rejected. He said that sports in the capital were "a victim of the politicization of the Democratic Party of Socialists."
Klikovac said that the question arises "whether these people want the well-being of KK 'Budućnost'".
"Why is the amount smaller? What are the reasons?" Klikovac asked.
Vešović replied to Klikovac that he was "not here in front of the Government or the ruling majority."
"I don't think any of us have anything against BC 'Budućnost', we even look forward to their victories when they happen...", said Vešović, adding that "this year 700.000 euros is the maximum" they can give to the basketball club "Budućnost".
Milena Vuković (URA) said that she insists on expropriation because "a large part of Njegoš Park is privately owned."
"... Part of the Karver area is privately owned, part of the barracks... It is important that we all try to allocate more funds to return that land to municipal and state ownership so that we can be protected...", explained Vuković, adding that "once we lose part of the capital's territory, it will be difficult to get it back."
PES councilor Anđela Mićović said that the new city government is working properly and that citizens can see it.
"I would like to point out that at the public hearing, I commented on transfers to companies that operate with negative results with expressed disapproval. It is up to the management of these companies to make key decisions in order to reduce business losses. The new city government is not standing still, but working...", said Mićović.
She said that this year "the construction of the promenade on Ljubović will finally begin."
Klikovac asked whether 700.000 euros was enough for the Budućnost club, and whether construction of a wastewater treatment system would begin in Botun this year.
"If there is no construction there, then the capital budget will not be implemented. Let us just know, for the sake of the citizens of Podgorica, whether you will deign not to depend on Milan Knežević... The equipment has arrived, it is in the Zetatrans warehouses. The longer you delay, the more expensive the payment will be for the citizens of Podgorica," he said.
Mićović called on the state prosecutor's office to "enter the City Theater and examine all service contracts in that budgetary unit."
DPS councilor Andrija Klikovac said that yesterday's opening of the promenade along the banks of the Morača River was "up and down" for him.
Popović pointed out that the budget proposal is very good, and that it has no implementation.
Mugoša (Party of European Progress) said that the budget is not domestic, because "there is no mention of rationalization."
"Allocations for businesses continue to grow. 19 million euros have been allocated for local businesses, and that amount is higher than last year. The lawsuits hanging like a padlock around the neck of the capital are around 18 million. So we cannot say that the budget is developmental...", he assessed.
Klikovac said that, in the last two years, almost 600.000 euros have been allocated for service contracts.
"I will publish every contract for services identically... I thought that contracts for services would decrease, they have increased. The question arises, if we have a decreased gross salary, why are other personal incomes increasing," Klikovac asked, adding that it is questionable how variables will be allocated.
He emphasized that "as an economist" he cannot and is not satisfied with Podgorica's budget for this year.
Popović (Democrats) said that the councilors made an oversight today by discussing the amendments.
"We shouldn't have talked about them today, nor considered them," said Popović, adding that the budget is "domestic, developmental and record-breaking."
She said that this year's budget is development-oriented.
"The capital city could get into trouble because it is in debt for a total of some 17 million euros... It is not known what will happen by the end of the year. It is not known whether we will have to pay two or 30 or 40 million euros...", said Popović.
The session resumed after a half-hour break.
Andrija Klikovac (DPS) said that the budget was a fairy tale "like the one from last year."
"This is because we have 86 million euros in this capital budget, and of that, more than 30 million were carried over from the previous year, and 16 and a bit million are donations. More than half were carried over from the previous year. We have an increase in current budget expenses of 8,75 percent. Expenditures for services have increased by 850.000 euros. Expenditures for materials are an additional 100.000 euros... Then we have an increase in transfers to city enterprises. On what basis are funds for 'Vodovod' increased, and we have an increase in water prices...", said Klikovac.
Less than three percent, he said, is intended for the development of sports and recreation in Podgorica. He pointed out that there are numerous illogicalities in the budget.
"We are already adopting a budget that is ripe for rebalancing today...", he assessed.
Mujović said that a large number of the opposition's amendments were logical and good, and added that they were not rejected because they "came from the other side", but that there were appropriate reasons for that.
"We never have to be on the same wavelength. I respect the councilors. Don't attribute things to me that this is a simulation and empty talk. I stand behind every word of my opening address, but we can't always agree on everything. I think I was very honest in all my comments," Mujović told Perić.
Perić said that the mayor's job is "multidisciplinary".
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