CITY AND MUNICIPALITIES MUST HAVE A BETTER COOPERATION
2.2.2011.
Because of undone transfer of budget funds of City of Nis in its entirety intended for work of municipalities, created problems that in their work have organizations of local self-government of City of Nis and week cooperation with Administration of Finance of City of Nis and mayor of Nis in Media Center Nis, it was held press conference for journalists. About actual questions of financing and work of Nis municipalities spoke: Prof. Dr Igor Novakovic, president of City Municipality of Palilula; Dr Lelica Kostic, president of City Municipality of Crveni Krst; and Zoran Vidanovic, president of City Municipality of Niska Banja.

“And in 2011 it started with irregular financing of work of organization of local self-government of City of Nis. Planed transfer of money aimed to the municipalities late again and it is not transferred in its entirety – highlighted leaders of municipalities. Several times we pointed on consequences of this way of financing of city municipalities – highlighted president of Palilula Municipality, Prof. Dr Igor Novakovic, but nobody wants to take that seriously. Because of irregular inflow of planed funds, delay and switching of transfer in parts, is threatened future work and liquidity of municipalities. “At the moment when we solving numerous problems of citizens and realizing project with support of EU, debts and obligations of Municipality to suppliers is increasing remained president Novakovic. Many have announced lawsuits because of debts that appeared not regular transfer of money. Is intolerable and incomprehensible that Administration of Finance and City of Nis, on this way threaten normal functioning of work of city municipalities and solving of numerous problems of our citizens. “To understand, I am not existentially threatened and my salary I get as University professor but it is unacceptable that employees in our municipalities, who have salary on average about 23 thousands RSD, who work hard and from who are required that without question perform tasks for the needs of citizens, suffer the consequences of one` self will. Once the City municipalities asked to increase jurisdiction, to avoid situation to ask someone for transfer, but to earn by themselves. It did not happened because the Statute of the City changed and all agreements that were originally obtained were not respected. There was a situation that about the transfers to municipalities and conditions decide Head of Administration of Finance of City of Nis. We asked for information, what it was a priority for payment from City budget from period January 25th to the February 2nd. Transfers to the municipalities until the end of 2009th were regular, and then in December that year denied 25% of transfer to the City municipalities and from then municipalities  have a problem with liquidity.

President of City Municipality Crveni Krst, Dr Lelica Kostic says that Mayor avoid meetings with presidents of Municipalities. “Not just a transfer of funds is the problem. Last week several times I asked to schedule meeting with the Mayor, but his secretary asked me to specify topics of the meetings. There is numerous problems, and some questions because of limited jurisdiction I can not to solve independently so it is necessary consultation with the Mayor. That meeting has not yet held. We regularly pay out salaries to workers every month, and that’s why we need precise dynamics of the transfer of assets from City of Nis, to plan realistic implementation and other obligations – says president Kostic. President of City Municipality of Niska Banja, Zoran Videnovic was very direct in assessing the current situation by saying that “Big city can not to lead small man, because city then can not be big or beautiful”. He publicly criticized the Mayor of Nis that has not complied agreements with Municipalities and that he repeating failures of his predecessors. “City Administration are not possessions, nor public enterprises and ministries  are party` holdings, nor it may not be,  they are there because of the citizens of Nis. We ask that organs of City Administration behave to work on behalf of the citizens of Nis, and not in favor of their political parties” highlighted president of Palilula Municipality Dr Igor Novakovic.