According to FINA data, Croatian cities allocated a total of 769.252.296 euros for quality of life last year, which is approximately 10 percent more than in 2023, when 693.037.206 euros were allocated for the same purpose. For services to improve housing and the community, or quality of life, which includes, for example, investment in public lighting, drinking water supply, housing development, and the like, in 2024 the cities that allocated the most per capita were Novigrad, Novalja, Nin, Kraljevica, Mali Lošinj, Novi Vinodolsk, and in terms of the share of allocated funds from the budget, Kraljevica, Novigrad, Omiš, Trogir, Kutjevo, Komiža, Čabar. The highest nominal increase compared to 2023 was recorded by Velika Gorica, Split, Zaprešić, Pula, and in percentage terms by Otok, Županja, Đurđevac, Našice, Varaždinske Toplice, Vukovar...
Cities that manage their space well generally strive to make their environment more pleasant, functional, and beautiful – in short, to improve the quality of life. Although their capabilities vary and priorities change, the basic task of city government is to effectively manage budgets and projects in the best interests of residents.
This analysis focused on the budget item 'Housing and community improvement services', which in the broadest sense encompasses everything that Croatian cities do to directly improve everyday living conditions: the development of housing and housing standards, water supply, transport and communal infrastructure, public lighting, planning the reconstruction and construction of communal, health, cultural, educational, upbringing and recreational facilities...
Most often, these are EU projects and investments in drainage and drinking water, roads and public areas, kindergartens, playgrounds and schools, sports facilities or energy renovation of public buildings. In practice, this also includes the maintenance and expansion of the public lighting network, the development of beaches and coastal promenades, the cleaning of green and public areas, waste management (from collection points to the rehabilitation of illegal landfills), and even specific municipal programs such as the care of abandoned animals.
According to data from the Financial Agency, Croatian cities allocated a total of 769.252.296 euros for quality of life in the analyzed year, which is about 10 percent more than in 2023, when 693.037.206 euros were allocated for the same purpose. For comparison, in 2022, they allocated 528.134.111 euros, and in 2021 - 565.211.327 euros (then in kuna).
Trogir allocates around 40 percent of its budget for quality of life
Last year, 94 cities allocated more than 10 percent of their budget for quality of life, 49 of them more than 20 percent, while the ten best-ranked cities allocated more than 35 percent of their budget. Leading the way The Queen with a record 58.45 percent of the city budget. It is in second place Novigrad with 49,83 percent allocated, followed by Omis, Trogir, Kutjevo i Komiza, who allocated between 41,38 and 39.14 percent of the shares. Tub, Watery, New Vinodolski i Mali Losinj make up the rest of the Top 10 list with allocations ranging from 38,53 to 35,38 percent of the budget.
It seems particularly interesting and 'catches the eye' that the position in the top ten is occupied by as many as nine coastal cities, four of which are given by the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. The logical conclusion is that the focus on tourism and the creation of high-quality spatial conditions for raising the tourist rating and attracting tourists make the quality of life, among other things, very important.
Coastal centers also dominate when it comes to allocation 'per capita'. There, 46 cities set aside over 300 euros per capita, and the first ten over 600 euros. Leader Novigrad invested an impressive 1.545,11 euros per capita, second in the ranking Novalja – 864,79, third Nin – 857,16 euros. Also in the Top 10 are: The Queen, Mali Losinj, New Vinodolski, Vodice, Hvar, Helmet i Watery, with a PC allocation of 800,67 to 605,23 euros. On average, 128 cities invested -273,80 euros 'per capita' in 2024 in the improvement of housing and community.
Two-thirds of them recorded an upward trend in allocations. That is, 86 cities increased investments in quality of life, 31 of them by over 50 percent compared to 2023. The largest percentage jump was Otok – 2.491,89 percent, followed by: County, Lily of the valley, Nasice, Varaždinske Toplice, Vukovar, New Marof, Kastav, Ivanec i Novska, from 252,68 to 102,75 percent increase. Also close were: Đakovo, Sveti Ivan Zelina, Velika Gorica, Metković, Zaprešić, Orahovica, Glina, Donji Miholjac, Novi Vinodolski, Slavonski Brod…, between 102,20 and 66,96 percent increase in allocations. 42 Croatian cities recorded a negative trend.
If we look at the increasing trend in absolute numbers, the first is Velika Gorica with +7.592.146 euros (8.694.657-16.286.803), ahead Split, Zaprešić, Pula, Rivers i Nasica, from +7.066.925 to +2.843.085 euros. The top ten ranking also includes: Cakovec, Rovinj, Ivanec i Djakovo, with an increase from +2.654.283 to +2.389.444 euros. At the top of the nominal increase were Slavonski Brod, Dubrovnik, Varaždin, Kastav, Županja, Vodice, Đurđevac, Omiš, Kutina, Novska, Umag…, with an increase from +2.317.101 to +1.744.650 euros.
Looking at absolute amounts, last year the most invested in quality of life was of course Zagreb – 285.310.973 euros, came in second place Split with 28.650.057 euros, is third Osijek– 26.428.210 euros, the fourth is the Helmet – 24.708.736 euros, fifth Zadar – 19.209.296 euros, sixth Pula – 18.016.006 euros, seventh Velika Gorica – 16.286.803 euros, eighth Rijeka – 13.580.713 euros, ninth Karlovac - 13.418.035 euros, and the list of top 10 cities with the largest allocated amount concludes Dubrovnik with 12.356.826 euros.
Source: Mayor
Photo: illustration
