Last year, approximately 267,000 euros were disbursed from the current budget reserve of the Municipality of Pljevlja, primarily to the Serbian Orthodox Church and various non-governmental organizations.

This information is corroborated by documentation obtained by “Vijesti” from the Municipality of Pljevlja via a MANS application for the right to information, titled “Ask the institutions”.

Funds from the current budget reserve are allocated for unforeseen or inadequately planned expenditures throughout the fiscal year. Both current and permanent budget reserve funds are managed by the mayor, in accordance with the Decision regarding their utilization.

The provisions outlined in the Decision on the Use of Current and Permanent Budget Reserve Funds indicate that current budget reserve funds can be allocated to improve and facilitate activities related to healthcare, education, social and child protection, environmental conservation, enhancing the demographic profile of the municipality, and cultural, sports, and other areas of interest to local residents, with a maximum of 5,000 euros available for these purposes.

According to the President of the Municipality of Pljevlja, Dario Vranes, the largest portion of the current budget reserve, approximately 52,000 euros, was approved last year to assist the Serbian Orthodox Church with the construction and fresco painting of churches, the organization of religious ceremonies, and other related religious activities.

These allocations are double the amount provided to citizens for medical treatment and significantly more than what was allocated for improving the financial situation of the most vulnerable community members, being five times greater than allocations aimed at enhancing conditions in healthcare institutions within Pljevlja.

The Serbian Orthodox Church in the village of Brvenica received the maximum allocation of 5,000 euros for fresco painting, and a similar amount was approved for the construction of a church in the village of Obarde. Additionally, 5,000 euros were allocated for the church in Kosanica, while 1,500 euros went to the church in Krće for fresco production, and various amounts—3,000 euros for the temple in Guke, and 1,000 euros for work at the Dubočica monastery—were allocated as well.

Vranes also favorably responded to requests from church committees for assistance in church construction in other locations in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, showing generosity towards the Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarchate as well.

Aiding the Church Committee of the temple in Vučji Do in Republika Srpska for the commemoration of the Battle of Vučedol received support of 500 euros, alongside a similar amount approved for the church construction committee in Dapsići, Berane.

An allocation of 800 euros was made for repairs to sidewalks and access roads at the Dobrun Monastery, 1,500 euros were approved for the Serbian Orthodox Church in Nišići (Ilijaš – BiH) which celebrated a jubilee, while 1,000 euros supported a street lighting project at the Church Municipality in Rožaje in Radeva Mala.

Furthermore, Vranes allocated 3,255 euros to the Patriarchate of the Serbian Orthodox Church for renovating the archives office of the Patriarchal Board of Directors and an additional 3,000 euros for the printing of a book titled “Pljevlja and the Monastery of the Holy Trinity”.

The Serbian Orthodox Seminary of St. Peter of Cetinje received 2,000 euros from the current budget reserve for the acquisition of essential machinery and school equipment.

4,000 euros were provided to the Mileševo Diocese for printing “Epistles and Sermons of Patriarch Varnava,” along with 3,000 euros to the church administration in Strečanje for celebrating the 100th anniversary of the church’s renovation. Similarly, 4,000 euros were allocated to support the cultural program for the Saint Sava Day celebration and another 4,000 euros for organizing an event at the Church of Saint Petka in Pljevlja.

The municipality also purchased 3,850 bottles of wine from the Miholjska Prevlaka Monastery for 750 euros, intended to be used as gifts for guests and delegations visiting the municipality.

Support for Health and Education

In response to 67 citizen requests for medical aid, a total of 17,500 euros were approved, averaging about 261 euros per request. Over 8,000 euros were disbursed to assist citizens in improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable groups. From 33 requests submitted last year, amounts ranging from 100 to 300 euros were allocated.

Approximately 9,150 euros were approved from the current budget reserve for health institutions in Pljevlja, with 5,000 euros designated for equipping the Emergency Medical Service premises.

More than 34,000 euros were allocated from the current budget reserve for educational institutions in Pljevlja last year, additionally complemented by 1,258 euros for the Eco Fairy Preschool to purchase two air conditioners.

The largest allocations were for the Secondary Vocational School, which received 12,000 euros, including 10,000 euros for classroom equipment and 2,000 euros for organizing an overseas student excursion.

The “Tanasije Pejatović” Gymnasium received 9,500 euros, covering 5,000 euros for reconstructing the ceremonial hall, 1,500 euros for hiring a professional agency to promote the institution, 1,500 euros for student trips to the Petnica research center, and two requests for funding to purchase three laptops for awarded students.

5,000 euros were approved for “Salko Aljković” primary school for hallway and classroom adaptations; a similar amount was granted to “Radoje Tošić” primary school in Srdanovo Grob for renovating dilapidated school facilities. Additionally, 1,000 euros were allocated for the school in Kosanica, 2,000 euros for Bobovo school to enhance rural school conditions, and another 1,000 euros for the primary school in Kruševo for necessary adaptations.

Moreover, Vraneš provided 2,500 euros to the Faculty of Medicine in Foča for equipping its computer center.

Support for NGOs, Bijelo Polje Prison, and a Trip to Trebinje…

Non-governmental organizations, including some not based in Pljevlja, were granted over 50,000 euros from the current budget reserve last year. The highest single allocation of 5,000 euros was made to the Serbian Cultural Center Patriarch Varnava for printing several publications authored by notable residents of Pljevlja. Additional grants of the same amount were given to the NGO Mufti Mehmed Efendi Šemsikadić for constructing a cultural center and to the NGO Zajedno za otadžbina for purchasing machinery for the village of Krćevina. The NGO Nefro received 5,000 euros for organizing international meetings for transplant and dialysis patients, while 4,000 euros were allocated to the NGO Pvsvitanje to assist with operational costs and equipment purchases for their portal. The Sveti Sava Humanitarian Association was granted 3,500 euros to support an elderly assistance project in the Šula settlement and an additional 2,000 euros to acquire media equipment. The Oldtimer Club Association was allocated 1,500 euros for organizing a gathering of classic cars.

Smaller allocations ranging from 30 to 1,500 euros have been approved for various groups including gusle playing societies, voluntary blood donor associations, singing groups, trade union organizations, book publishers, the War Volunteers Association, the Ray of Hope, and the Home for the Elderly. A payment of 600 euros was made to the NGO Božura to cover accommodation and meals for a group of devotees from KIM hosted at the Holy Trinity Monastery in Pljevlja.

Vranes also approved 1,500 euros for the Criminal Sanctions Enforcement Institute in Bijelo Polje to repair its roof and allocated 680 euros to fund a trip to Trebinje for employees of a local supermarket. Additionally, the budget reserve covered 3,714 euros of customs debt for the NGO Cultural Center Predrag Peđa Leovac, though details of the customs debt were not detailed.

Last year, sports organizations in Pljevlja received 14,500 euros from the budget reserve, with the most substantial single grant of 5,000 euros going to the Rudar Football Club to alleviate a challenging financial situation.

The previous year also saw Vranes approving approximately 12,000 euros for recognizing municipal employees and municipal companies for exceptional performance, alongside around 17,000 euros allocated to rural communities for the construction of water supply systems, village chapels, and homes.

The municipality allocated 600 euros to the Security Center in Pljevlja for purchasing two computers, and 1,000 euros were designated for the police to cover fuel costs during the pursuit of a suspect in a double murder case involving Alija Balijagić.

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