The municipality of Bar, which last year had total revenues of over 67 million euros, spent a little more than half of that – almost 38 million. They planned 34 million for capital projects, and spent 13, while almost four and a half million went to salaries for municipal employees. They carried over almost 30 million unspent to this year because the rebalance brought new revenues into the coffers.
This follows from the content of the Report on the Work of the Mayor and Local Government Bodies for 2024 and the Final Account of the Budget of the Municipality of Bar for the same year, which were adopted by the members of the Municipal Assembly (MA) of Bar at today's session.
19 councilors from the government voted for the final account, while one opposition councilor also voted for the report of the Mayor, so it was adopted with 20 votes "in favor".
Ivana Backović, Secretary of the Secretariat for Finance, and Stefan Šušter, Secretary of the Secretariat for Property and Investments in the Bar Administration, presented the final accounts of the Bar Municipality, which were approved by the votes of 19 councilors of the authority.
From 2023 to 2024, 16.318.215 euros were transferred, receipts during the last year amounted to 50.879.895 euros, so the total budget was 67 million 198 thousand and 111 euros. On the last day of the previous year, the cash deposit of the Bar administration amounted to 29.280.677 euros and exactly 37.917.433 euros were spent.
The largest share in the budget surplus is the rebalance adopted at the end of last October, after the Municipality of Bar forcibly collected a fee for the municipal equipment of Maljevik from the company "Sonuba Montenegro" in the amount of almost 20 million euros, including principal and interest.
The rebalance increased the Bar administration's budget from 45 to 64,7 million euros. Opposition councilors criticized this decision, pointing out that the budget included money that cannot be spent, so it will continue to flow from year to year, while the government will boast about record money.
They particularly questioned the capital budget, which they believe is not being spent and managed properly. Šušter responded that numerous investments and projects have been started and will be completed in the next reporting period, and he pointed out that with a small number (17) of employees in "his" secretariat, it is difficult to spend even 13 million, let alone 34, as planned.
Based on its own revenues, the Municipality of Bar received 41.659.529 euros (62 percent of the total budget), almost six million were ceded revenues (8,79 percent), the realized special investment fee was worth 255.887 euros (under one percent), 328.624 euros were donations (less than one percent), slightly over two and a half million were transfers (almost four percent), and loans and credits amounted to 85.341 euros (less than one percent).
Capital budget revenues for the previous year were realized in the amount of 33.148.330 euros, which is four percent more than the capital budget rebalance, and contribute 19,33 percent to the total realized inflows of the Bar Municipality budget for 2024.
In that year, funds from 2023 in the amount of 16.318.215,61 euros were transferred and are intended for financing investments initiated in the previous period and are mostly paid from the item of expenditures for contracted obligations, said Šušter.
The fee for communal equipment of construction land - utilities was realized in the amount of over 15 million, or just over nine percent more than the capital budget plan for 2024.
Total capital budget costs amount to almost 17 million euros, or 44 percent of the capital budget expenditure plan for 2024. Over seven million euros were spent on local infrastructure, around 98 thousand euros on public lighting, and almost 42 thousand on the water supply network.
242 thousand euros were spent on project documentation and infrastructure, only ten thousand for sewage, and three million and 853 thousand euros were spent on land expropriation by the Municipality of Bar...
"The budget is record-breaking because the capital budget is not being implemented," she said. Valentina Minic (Democrats).
She also protested that four million euros went to court cases against the Municipality of Bar, as well as that 58 thousand euros from the local treasury were spent on compensation for stray dog bites, to which citizens were entitled last year.
Radomir Novaković Cakan (Biram Bar) criticized the fact that in the previous year, total revenues were 67,198,111 euros, and expenditures were 37,917,433 euros, while 29,280,677 euros remained unrealized.
"Announced as historic, record-breaking, and developmental by both the executive branch and the majority councilors, we now see that capital expenditures, the development component of the budget, were realized by only 38,88 percent, amounting to 13,210,342 euros, which is one third of the total budget," Novaković said.
He pointed out that expenditures for local roads were planned at nine and a half million euros, and 510,335 euros, or about five percent, were realized.
The costs for the construction of the water supply were planned at 800 thousand euros, and 41,976 euros, or seven percent, were spent. Expenditures for sewage and collectors were planned at 1,8 million euros, and 10,361 euros, or 0,58 percent, were realized, Novaković underlined, describing this as worrying.
"What can I say about such data? It's a defeat of morality, profession, correctness and professionalism. The data is a defeat for us as the opposition for allowing this, not for you who exercise power and the citizens pay you for such results," he emphasized.
They were satisfied with the final bill. Aleksandar Barlović (Democratic Party of Socialists) i Omer Vukic (Social Democratic Party).
The Municipality of Bar is pursuing a responsible fiscal policy, assessed Barlović, and is successfully finding a balance between all regular obligations, support for citizens and businesses, entrepreneurship, and development projects.
Vukić pointed out that savings were made in some areas, such as salaries, for which around four million were planned and around three million were spent, and he also praised the savings made on official trips.
Raičević: At least it confirmed that it is a "place of life"
The first man of Bar, Dušan Raičević, presenting a report on the work of the administration he leads, said that they had a successful year and that this document shows that they have achieved not only what they had ambitiously planned, but also exceeded expectations in important segments.
"It is good that such a trend continues year after year and that we manage to make further strides each year in the quality and quantity of the Budget and the set agenda, raising the bar of success and therefore improving the quality of life of the citizens of Bar from year to year. It is not without reason that our city has the image of "Bar, a place of life", and on this demanding path, every individual in the local administration, local self-government and the local community as a whole has made a significant contribution," said Raičević.
He assessed that all associates, services and local government bodies, as well as the Municipal Assembly and councilors, local businesses, but also all citizens, each in their own way, gave their full contribution to what was done, for which he expressed his gratitude.
Raičević spoke about sports and cultural projects implemented or financed by the local government, and concluded that Bar has once again shown that it is a sports and cultural center. He also listed the funds that the Municipality of Bar has allocated for various competitions for subsidies and grants - in the fields of social protection, entrepreneurship, gender policies, for artificially assisted reproduction...
"When I talk about everything that has been achieved, aware of what we are currently doing and what awaits us by the end of this year and in the coming years, and for which we are laying the foundations now, believe me that I am proud of our endeavor. When I say our, I mean all of us together, as I said at the beginning, the local administration, all associates and the Municipality, you councilors, the local economy, but also every citizen who has contributed with their suggestions, proposals, support for the development momentum and understanding for all the obstacles we encounter in our work," he concluded.
Last year, the Municipality of Bar allocated 4.374.161 euros for transfers to institutions, individuals, non-governmental and public sectors, and grants were paid to all societies and institutions founded by the Municipality of Bar, as well as local companies, in the amount of 5.321.524 euros.
Three million and 670 thousand euros were paid for the repayment of the debt - loan from the KfW bank, and 3.113.284 euros were set aside from the cash register of the Bar administration for obligations from the previous period.
If there had not been a rebalance, which brought almost 20 million euros into the Bar administration budget, the data would show that 45, or 38 percent of the total budget, of the planned 84 million, had been spent.
The Decision on the Budget of the Municipality of Bar for last year determined funds in the amount of 45.060.000 euros. During 2024, and in accordance with the Law on Financing Local Self-Government, a budget rebalance was made, based on which total revenues were planned in the amount of 64.715.000,00 euros, which is a 44 percent increase compared to the original plan.
"Therefore, in 2024, the Municipality of Bar achieved a record 67.198.111,34 euros or 103,8 percent compared to the plan according to the Rebalance," the document states.
The most significant realization of own revenues compared to the planned forecasts is based on the fee for communal equipping of construction land - utilities, which was realized in the amount of 15.278.143 euros or 9,1 percent more than the plan according to the rebalance.
The increase in this income, compared to the original plan, was influenced by the final and enforceable judgment of the Basic Court in Bar, based on which the company "Sonuba Montenegro" paid the principal debt in the amount of 9.345.710 euros.
The corresponding interest from the judgment in question in the amount of 10.507.931 euros influenced the increase in revenue from fines and property gains, which were planned in the amount of 10 thousand and 700 euros, and realized in the amount of 10 euros.
"The largest amount of tax revenue was achieved in real estate tax, with a realization of 105,6 percent, followed by surtax on personal income tax, with a realization of 118 percent. Also, the tax revenue plan in 2024 was realized by 103,3 percent compared to the plan. When it comes to ceded revenues, the better realization compared to the plan relates to personal income tax, with a realization of 110,3 percent," the report states.
In proportion to the budget revenues generated in the period from January to December 2024, obligations towards budget beneficiaries were also fulfilled.
Total budget expenditures of the Municipality of Bar for 2024, according to the revised budget, were planned in the amount of 64.715.000,00 euros, and executed in the amount of 37.917.433,36 euros or 58,6 percent of the total budget.
More projects started than completed
In the part of the report relating to infrastructure projects, the works that have been started are highlighted, while the completed works mainly relate to reconstruction and construction projects of roads.
Among them, works have been initiated on the reconstruction of the regional road route Bar - Kamenički Bridge - Krute, 15 kilometers long, towards the Sukobin border crossing, with an estimated value of 12,2 million euros, which is being implemented by the Traffic Administration in cooperation with the Municipalities of Bar and Ulcinj.
The Municipality of Bar previously provided 2,9 million euros from the budget for the expropriation of land and agricultural property. Last year, they applied to the Government of Montenegro for financing the main project for the reconstruction of the regional road Bar - Sutorman - Virpazar, the construction of which was financed from the local budget in the amount of 225.398,80 euros.
The development of project documentation for boulevard roads from the turnoff for the "Sozina" tunnel in Sutomore to Šušanj, as well as from Biskupada to the connection to the regional road at the "Ćafe" tunnel, including public lighting projects for the aforementioned sections, is underway.
The construction of the road “Ulice 2” is in its final phase, with a value of 636.717 euros. The construction of the road with supporting infrastructure near the Pensioners' Home has been completed, for which the Municipality of Bar allocated 132.918 euros from the local budget. Works on the reconstruction of the pedestrian path in Makedonska Street have been contracted for an estimated value of 413.793,77 euros.
The reconstruction of Pavla Rovinskog Street, in which around 84 thousand euros were invested, has been completed. Works on the reconstruction of the Brčeli-Utrg, or Brčeli-Podgor road, with a total length of 3,8 kilometers, have been completed, for which the local administration allocated 452.540 euros.
Over 1,8 million euros have been invested in the investment maintenance of local roads in local communities. The process of preparing project documentation for the reconstruction of the road through Zaljevo, more precisely from the settlement of Mirovica to the settlement of Sveti Ivan, has been initiated.
Works have been contracted for the construction of a transit and distribution pipeline from Donja Tomba to the settlement of Popovići, with an estimated value of 696.597 euros. Works are planned for the construction of a fecal sewage system from the roundabout on JNA Boulevard to the overpass, with a total value of 197.633 euros.
The construction and landscaping of a new city park near the sports hall "Topolica" has been completed, worth 290.114 euros. The construction and landscaping of a square and promenade in Sutomore, jointly financed by the Municipality of Bar, "Morsko dobro" and the Capital Projects Administration, is in its final phase.
The total value of the project is 1.543.381 euros. The works on the arrangement of the parking lot at the General Hospital in Bar, worth 178.118 euros, have been completed.
The tender procedure for the selection of a contractor for the reconstruction of Borska Street with parking spaces according to the DUP “Topolica-Bjeliši” is underway, with an estimated value of one million and 161 thousand euros. The planned works, in addition to the construction of a road, sidewalks with tactile paths and parking, also envisage the creation and adequate arrangement of four green areas in order to preserve the existing perennial trees and greenery at this location. The estimated value of the works is 181.148,45 euros.
Work has begun on the improvement of public areas – pedestrian paths in front of the Tri kule buildings on Vladimira Rolovića Street, with a contracted value of 100.188,48 euros. They also replaced the city's old bus stops, which cost the local treasury 120.996 euros.
The construction of a Day Center for Children with Disabilities, which will provide adequate treatment and accommodation for children with disabilities from the territory of the municipality of Bar, is in its final phase, with a total value of 1,6 million euros.
The Bar administration has allocated one and a half million euros for infrastructure projects in schools, which are the subject of a Memorandum of Cooperation signed by the Municipality of Bar with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation.
The tender procedure for selecting a contractor for the adaptation of the sports field in the DUP “Topolica I” area behind the “Spuska” buildings is underway. The estimated value of these works is 199.650 euros. 44.593 euros were spent on the reconstruction of the boiler room of the “Crvena banka” building.
The interior design work of the sales area and conference room in the "Olive House" facility, with a total value of 140.356 euros, has been completed. After the handover of the facility and the interior design of the "Olive House" in Stari Bar, the Municipality of Bar has allocated funds in the amount of 150.000 euros for the purchase of a comprehensive production facility, the procedure for which is in the final phase.
After the competition was conducted and the conceptual urban planning and architectural solution for the swimming pool facility - the national aquatic center with a swimming area and accompanying facilities in Bar was selected, the process of developing the main project worth 332.460 euros is underway, financed from the budget of the Municipality of Bar, and will be completed in 2025.
The revision of the main project for the development of the park and supporting infrastructure at the Niko Rolović Gymnasium is in its final phase. The project, whose estimated implementation value is close to 780.000,00 euros, will include three phases of work: development of public areas, construction of a fountain and two supporting facilities.
On the last day of 2024, the Municipality of Bar had a total of 296 employees, of which eight were local community secretaries and one intern.
Women make up 53,4 percent of employees, while the remaining 46,6 percent are men. The municipality of Bar is relatively "young", with 25,7 percent of employees between 18 and 35 years old, 39,2 percent between 36 and 50 years old, and 35,1 percent of employees between 51 and 67 years old.
There are nine secretariats, four special services and three professional services in the Municipality of Bar.
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