Newsroom
OSCE Mission to Skopje supports municipalities' outreach efforts
SKOPJE 11 January 2008
SKOPJE, 11 January 2008 - Ten municipalities began distributing brochures this week with financial reports from the previous year and explanation of municipal income sources and expenses. The brochures were produced with support from the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje.
"We were impressed by the initiative of these municipalities who volunteered to be part of this project. It shows that they are truly making an effort to be transparent and engage their citizens. We hope that other municipalities will learn from this initiative," said Alessandro Tedesco, of Mission's Public Administration Reform Department.
Approximately 140,000 brochures were printed in total. They include a simplified budget breakdown and an explanation of the financial report, and will be sent to each household in the municipalities along with the January bills. They will also be available in Citizens Information Centres and other locations.
"For us it was important to let the citizens know how much money the municipality has at its disposal and how it was spent in order to increase public involvement and the trust they have in the local government," said Ljubomir Janev, the Mayor of Kochani Municipality.
The municipalities Sveti Nikole, Sopishte, Kumanovo, Bogdanci, Valandova, Struga, Brvenica, Gazi Baba, and Veles were also part of this project.
"We were impressed by the initiative of these municipalities who volunteered to be part of this project. It shows that they are truly making an effort to be transparent and engage their citizens. We hope that other municipalities will learn from this initiative," said Alessandro Tedesco, of Mission's Public Administration Reform Department.
Approximately 140,000 brochures were printed in total. They include a simplified budget breakdown and an explanation of the financial report, and will be sent to each household in the municipalities along with the January bills. They will also be available in Citizens Information Centres and other locations.
"For us it was important to let the citizens know how much money the municipality has at its disposal and how it was spent in order to increase public involvement and the trust they have in the local government," said Ljubomir Janev, the Mayor of Kochani Municipality.
The municipalities Sveti Nikole, Sopishte, Kumanovo, Bogdanci, Valandova, Struga, Brvenica, Gazi Baba, and Veles were also part of this project.