How important is the involvement of the local authorities and the local administration is shown by the example of the municipality of Kavadarci, the collection of property tax has increased by 100%. The municipalities of Vele, Vrapchiste, Gostivar, Gevgelija, Debar, Ilinden, Kavadraci, Kratovo, Makedosnka Kamenica, Mogilan , Sveti Nikole, Staro Nagoricane, Studenicani, Center Župa and Shtip, also have good results in terms of updating the data, which results in increased efficiency of tax collection, and in the municipality of Arachinovo, the capacities of the organizational unit for administration are strengthened with taxes, which fulfills the conditions for the execution of the competence, said the Minister of Local Self-Government Risto Penov, the way of presenting the results of the USAID project for strengthening the capacities for the use of resources "partnership for more efficient municipalities".

He emphasized that all municipalities included in the first phase of the project have increased the property tax collection rate by an average of 34.5%, which contributes to the increase in the collection rate of their own revenues by about 25%.

After alerting some municipalities and the city of Skopje that they do not have complete databases of property tax payers, the Ministry of Local Self-Government in cooperation with the USAID project initiated specific activities for full support of municipalities to improve their tax collection capacities on property. It is high time to overcome children's diseases. The property tax, the collection of the use of funds in its entirety is a local competence and responsibility. It is money from the citizens for the citizens. I do not amnesty the central government, but the responsibilities cannot be taken or left according to one's own wishes and assessments, said Penov.

For this purpose, a special working group was formed with representatives from the Ministry of Local Self-Government, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Real Estate Cadastre Agency, the State Audit Office, the Commission for Local Self-Government of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, SELS, the City of Skopje and the municipalities of Ilinden and Tetovo, which in the coming period will propose concrete legal solutions and a way to exchange data between the higher authorities and the municipalities

We have a decentralized management system and the competencies between the central and local levels are shared. The functionality of the municipalities and the City of Skopje has a direct impact on the implementation of policies and the quality of life of the citizens, he said.

Penov pointed out that the Government has improved the financing system of the local self-government with specific measures, the revenues from the value added tax and the personal tax have increased, and with the new way of distributing the funds through performance and equalization instruments, a fairer distribution of the funds is ensured. .

I expect that the end of 2023 will show the effects of these measures. According to the data from 2022 on municipal revenues, the revenues in the municipal budgets are mostly from transfers from the central government and donations, or 63.9%. Tax revenues are at a level of 27.17%. Capital gains are just over 4%. Of the total revenues, 50% were realized in the urban municipalities without the city of Skopje, 33.26% in the city of Skopje and the municipalities of Skopje, and only 14.62% in the rural municipalities, explained Penov.

The most tax revenues, or 51%, are realized in the city of Skopje and the municipalities, and the least in the rural municipalities, only 8% of the total tax revenues. Compared to the city of Skopje and the municipalities of Skopje, 6 times less, or in relation to other urban municipalities, 5 times less. less.

The differences arise from the actual fiscal resources available to the municipalities, but also from their fiscal effort and capacities for maximum effectiveness of property tax revenues. The activities implemented by the Ministry of Local Self-Government and the Ministry of Finance, within the framework of the USAID project , are already showing results, Penov said.

Penov: The city of world solidarity, Skopje, does not forget to build a system of measures that will make us more resistant to the consequences and to show greater concern for ourselves and future generations.

Natural disasters usually do not depend on us, but together we have a responsibility to build a system of measures that will make our states and local communities more resistant to disasters, said the Minister of Local Self-Government Risto Penov at a conference organized by UNDP, on the occasion 60th anniversary of the earthquake in Skopje.

If we cannot influence the cause, we can certainly influence the minimization of the consequences. But only through a built system of measures that will be unconditionally respected by everyone. Every concession can be paid with human life, and human life has no price. The memories let them be a lesson to us that nature can be merciless. That's why we humans should be