The capital plans to invest almost 90 million euros in Podgorica's infrastructure, facilities and equipment next year, of which more than 17 million are intended for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant (collector) in the Zeta settlement of Botun.
Podgorica recently received a building permit for the project, but the residents of Botuni have once again said that they will not allow it.
Capital expenditures amount to more than half of the planned city budget for 2026, projected at just over 160 million euros.
The draft decision on the budget of the Capital City for the next year is under public discussion.
"Expenditures for local infrastructure are planned in the amount of 53.270.000 euros and account for 33,19 percent of total expenditures for 2026, or 59,25 percent of the capital budget. These expenditures are below the plan for 2025 due to the allocation of the item related to resolving property-legal relations to a separate position 'other capital expenditures', which in 2025 was within the position 'expenditures for local infrastructure'. Expenditures for local infrastructure relate to the construction of roads, bridges, squares, promenades, road rehabilitation, expenditures for public lighting, water supply and sewage construction, landscaping of green areas and construction of parks, landscaping of cemeteries, preparation of project-technical documentation...", the Draft Decision states.
It is specified that, among other things, it concerns the construction of roads, garages and bridges, for which the planned cost is 5,5 million euros. The city has estimated that the construction of a promenade on Ljubović and partly along the Morača River could cost a total of half a million euros. Eight million euros are planned for the repair of municipal and uncategorized roads and streets in the territory of Podgorica, 3,3 million euros for the arrangement of green areas, children's playgrounds and hydrosystems...
When it comes to construction facilities, the Capital City has planned the construction of a multi-purpose facility in Zagorič, the start of work on the eastern stand of the City Stadium, as well as the continuation of work on the City Theater, as well as the reconstruction of several existing facilities in the amount of 11,7 million euros.
The city also plans to purchase equipment, and this item is worth 10 million euros.
Costs for the operation of local enterprises have also been planned, so 2,8 million euros are planned for Radio-Television Podgorica, and the same amount for "Čistoća", 2,2 million for "Zelenilo", and 1,1 million for Public Utilities, more than 1,7 million have so far been allocated to the Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica, while the budget of the Housing Agency from the city treasury is projected at 700.000 euros.
"The capital city will borrow up to 8 million euros in 2026 for the construction of an above-ground garage. Next year, the city will take over part of the debt related to the principal of the 'Water Supply and Sewerage' loan from the Investment and Development Fund of Montenegro, invested in the construction of a secondary sewage network and the expansion of the water supply system for the Tuzi and Zeta areas, in the amount of 437.340 euros," the document, which was published on the Podgorica website, states.
The Draft states that the Capital City will allocate more than 20 million euros to gross salaries and employer contributions.
"Increasing expenditures for gross salaries and strengthening human resources is planned for the Protection and Rescue Service (SZS), recognizing the need for additional employment of firefighters, as well as the engagement of an additional number of firefighters and rescuers for a certain period of time in the summer season, and for the Property Directorate, taking into account the volume of land managed by the Capital City with its continuous expansion, which requires increased activities to resolve property and legal relations, in which process the Property Directorate is a key factor," the document states.
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