Press release from the Most City Councilwoman of the County Assembly, Milija Baldić Lukšić
Our editorial team received a statement from the Most Councilor of the SDŽ County Assembly, Milija Baldić Lukšić, regarding the situation in the county, with an emphasis on the necessary creation of the County Property Register, which Baldić Lukšić requested nine years ago. We are publishing the statement in its entirety.
Despite the digitalization of public and local government, more than 50 percent of our county's budget funds go to salaries of employees, specifically 608 employees. The number of employees is growing every year, so we wonder whether there is really a need to increase the number of employees or whether that money can be spent on projects that will serve our citizens, said Most County Councilor Milija Baldić Lukšić, ahead of the 3rd session of the Split-Dalmatia County Assembly.
"We have been looking for a county property register for nine years. If we are serious about managing public property, we must first know what we have. This register is the basis for rational decision-making, from the conversion of neglected areas to the launch of projects without the unnecessary purchase of new land," pointed out Baldić Lukšić.
She reminded that the Law on the Management of Real Estate and Movable Property Owned by the Republic of Croatia entered into force on December 30, 2023, and that the management of part of state property was transferred to counties, cities and municipalities. This, he says, further strengthens the county's obligation to keep up-to-date and publicly available records.
"An example of irrational spending of budget money is the 120.000 euros spent on the purchase of land in Dicma for the construction of the Center for Victims of Communism. Why buy when the county has its own land and neglected buildings, from old schools to other facilities, that can be repurposed? With that money, we could, for example, have renovated a home for the elderly or renovated an existing school," she said.
Baldić Lukšić also referred to the accelerated, insufficiently high-quality arrangement of the clinic before the elections, so that it could be opened as soon as possible. Today, the building is in a bad condition, leaks, has no hot water and does not meet basic operating conditions, which clearly shows the irresponsible management of budget funds.
Regarding the irresponsible management of budget spending, Baldić Lukšić also cited an example from Brač. "The health center in Supetar is selling an apartment, although at the same time there is a shortage of health workers. Instead of selling, that apartment could be given, for example, to doctors and medical staff, as official accommodation. This is a concrete measure that keeps staff on the islands."
She emphasized that Most demands the urgent creation and publication of a property register with a plan for the conversion of neglected buildings, a moratorium on new purchases until existing assets are used, a thorough review of investments in healthcare with a public accountability report, a suspension of apartment sales in Supetar and the introduction of official apartments for island healthcare workers, and a halt to the growth of the administration while redirecting funds to projects that directly benefit citizens.
"Our goal is simple, and that is transparency, accountability, and rational spending. The county must first tidy up its own yard, inventory its assets, repurpose what we have, and only then, if it is truly necessary, make new purchases," concluded Most's councilor Milija Baldić Lukšić.
Photo: press
