The discussion of the most crucial point of Wednesday’s City Council session, the Split budget proposal for 2019 with the projections for 2020 and 2021, began after almost nine hours, reports Slobodna Dalmacija on December 19, 2018.
Mayor Andro Krstulović Opara presented a budget of 1.1 billion kuna, which is 120 million more than this year, which amounted to 980 million kuna.
Opara said that the budget was stimulating, developing and strategically oriented.
“When I am asked if it is ambitious, I say that this is the only opportunity to catch the train that is rushing beside us, because compared to Zagreb or Rijeka, it is clear that Split has been behind for almost a decade,” the mayor said.
Dragan Brtan, head of the Department of Financial Management and Control, presented individual figures, revenues, expenditures and planned projections. The most significant feature is the large amount for investment, i.e., for capital construction for which about 270 million kuna is planned.
“We see this happening through the prism of budget disbursement because a large part of the projects are co-financed from EU funds, which is accompanied by an increase in the number of employees. This refers to 80 people employed in city kindergartens and as part of the project "Zaželi sretniju starost" where 50 people are employed, all 100% funded, which has allowed us to redirect these funds to some other projects. All the projects for the next budget are under preparation and almost all the items have an increase,” Brtan said.
Natalia Tafra Bazina commented on behalf of the Smart party.
“Today we have a budget proposal for 2019 with projections for 2020 and 2021 submitted to us on December 12, although the legal deadline was November 15. But the biggest problem isn’t that it’s a violation of the law, or that the most important sessions of the week are held before Christmas and the day before another thematic session that is also delayed; All this is not a problem if you have a realistic, transparent and responsible budget in front of you. Unfortunately, in front of us we have an unrealistic budget, a plan full of good wishes that will be difficult to achieve. An important part of the Budget is goals. Where is the review of the achievements of the basic goals in 2018?” said Tafra Bazina.
The Most party submitted 43 amendments on the present Budget Proposal, and presented a series of proposals aimed at "raising the quality of life in districts, increasing decentralized funds for districts and local committees". They pointed out that they are seeking asylum again, and state that they will also prepare a Proposal for a Decision on this issue.
The amendments by Most and Ante Zoričić were requested with an increase of 324,000 kuna, which should be taken away from the Smart City digitalisation project.
“The asylum seeker is the County, and the City can establish asylum, and by the act of accepting the amendment we do not establish asylum, but by accepting, we will participate in the founding. We can accept the amendment and not remove money from the SmartCity project but find another way,” the mayor replied and accepted the amendment.
The budget was adopted with 20 hands by HDZ, Ante Zoričić, HNS, HSLS and HGS, while nine from SDP, the Most councilors and the Smart party voted against the budget
After 11 hours, the City Council session was suspended and resumed on Thursday.
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