Durres municipality approves 2012 budget

TIRANA, June 4 – The Durres Municipality has finally approved its 2012 budget just as the new tourist season has kicked off amid concerns that investments in the country’s second biggest city and major tourist destination would be risked. The budget should have been approved last March but was delayed because of the political stalemate in the Municipality which is run by a Socialist Party Mayor but it’s the Democrats who have the majority in the decision-making municipal council. Debates between councilors were related to a sharp drop in revenues for 2011 and democrats’ concern over lack of necessary investments in the education infrastructure.
The 2012 budget foresees investments of 1.72 billion lek (Euro 12.2 million) of expenditure the same as planned revenues. Investments are expected at 646 million lek (Euro 4.5 million).