The first forum session in the municipality of Debar, where the budget forum as part of the Community Forums programme is implemented for the first time, took place on 8 October at the restaurant Penestija, in the presence of 184 citizens from the municipality.
The Forum objectives specified at the session read as follows: the citizens need to be better informed on the municipality plans for 2010, to take active participation in the decision making, to develop open discussions on the municipality budget and to emphasize their ideas and take active participation in the preparation of the budget.
“These project are attractive for the citizens since they provide them with the opportunity to make decisions on the areas where the budget funds will be utilized” – says Evzi Skara, participant at the Forum.
Presentation of the budget forum process, the budgeting process, structure of the budget of the municipality, structure of the labour force as well as an overview of the strategic development plan and the priorities for 2010; these were some of the topics covered at the session.
“The aim is to involve the citizens in the decision making for the budget of the municipality and promotion of a model for better communication with the citizens”, says Ibrahim Mehmeti, representative of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) that finances the Programme with participation of the municipality.
The attendants at the Forum were positioned at the following working tables – Infrastructure, Education, Culture, Public Cleanliness and Environment, Municipal Administration, Local economic development, Water supply and sewage, Social protection, Sports, Fire safety.
As the mayor of municipality Debar Argetim Fida stated, these Forums provide the citizens with the opportunity to decide which projects will be implemented.
“This organization of this Forum in the municipality is based on your contribution and large presence at the past eight Forums", added the Mayor
One of the main characteristics of the budget forum is the fact that the topic is defined in advance – preparation of the budget of the municipality for the next year.
The funds of the municipality and SDC, amounting to eight million denars will be allocated for the realization of projects that the citizens will determine within the frames of one of the project from the budget of the municipality.
At this stage the programme in Debar is being implemented by the Centre for Institutional Development – CIRa, in cooperation with the municipality.
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