Civil Insight: Draft budget 2024 for Elbasan’s citizens

A productive approach that is valid in the economic situation and context is the summary with the comments of local business representatives, prominent individuals, students, but also with the strong involvement of the active part of the civil society, which also participates in its widespread.

The budget prepared by the municipality is based on and divided into five categories, which cover a) Salaries and contributions, b) Goods and maintenance, c) Local services, d) Debts and subsidies and d) Capital investments.

In the commitment according to the law “On public notification and consultation”, for which we have communicated not only to the general public, but also to the Commissions of the Assembly and the Good Governance Unit of the Government, we have committed to essential changes to adhere to some basic principles of governance well. Holding consultations in the budgeting process, and beyond this period, stems from the obligation for accountability, which must stem from detailed and exhaustive analyzes that consider the applicability of the political program through monitoring the decisions of the Municipal Council, but also the performance of the Municipality and the mayor hers.

Meanwhile, public opinion comments, which include different categories and layers of the local community, should be conducted based on the qualified comment of the citizen through the selected expertise.

Participating in the decision-making process (through local administration), getting better information about activities based on local government programs is what empowers people in participatory governance.

A preliminary information, as well as especially its publication, would help the expertise to give ideas, would stimulate the debate within the citizens and would serve as a strong support in the dialogue of the local government with the central institutions.

In some cases, unsolicited capital investment project initiatives or projects that are not a public priority, but part of certain interest groups, have appeared.

Due to the lack of information, these public discussions, even if they were made, served the purpose of formalizing investments, they needed an analysis and discussion by the civil opposition.

Based on this approach, meetings should be held much earlier than currently, to ensure that citizens could express their needs and investment proposals in their neighborhoods and areas, and this input should be reflected in the preliminary stages of drafting. of the budget. This will encourage citizens to participate in hearings as they see a real opportunity for their ideas to be heard and to influence the distribution of public funds and regulatory powers.