In anticipation of the inevitable increase in water prices, which is necessary to preserve and subsequently improve the quality of water supply services, the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UOM) has prepared a model decision on subsidizing vulnerable categories of utility service users. Local governments may adopt this decision as a concrete measure of additional social protection for their citizens.
The model decision that has been prepared integrates subsidies for vulnerable categories of users of individually consumed utility services, as well as users of public passenger transport in urban and suburban areas. The adoption of such decisions, based on the model, would aim to provide additional support to vulnerable social groups, in accordance with the financial and administrative capacities of each municipality.
According to the model decision, the right to a subsidy covering part of the cost of public water supply, municipal wastewater management, and municipal waste management services may be granted to persons with disabilities, families of children with special educational needs, persons in a state of social need, young people transitioning out of social and child protection services for children without parental care, as well as pensioners receiving the minimum pension or a proportional pension not exceeding the amount of the minimum pension in Montenegro, provided that such pension is the household’s sole source of income. With regard to public transport, the model decision further stipulates that pupils and students may also be eligible for subsidies.
The utility services covered by the subsidy scheme include public water supply, municipal wastewater management, and municipal waste management. In addition, the subsidies also apply to public passenger transport in urban and suburban areas, the maintenance of public cemeteries, chapels, and crematoria, as well as burial services.
The model decision allows each municipality to determine the level of subsidy independently. The subsidy amount may vary depending on the type of service covered, as well as the category of vulnerable beneficiaries.
This document is available on the website of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UOM) at the following link:
https://uom.me/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Model_odluka_subvencioniranje_komunalne-usluge_okt.23.pdf
