The town of Otočac has secured a place among the five finalists in the quality of life improvement category of the Best Town awards. Alongside Otočac, Korčula, Ozalj, Omiš, and Trilj have reached the final.
The awards are organised by the portal Gradonačelnik.hr, Jutarnji list, and the Ipsos agency. The selection assesses progress made over the previous year across 29 indicators.
Otočac secured its place in the final through progress in several areas, including cultural spending, the efficiency of the town administration, and financial management. Among the reasons for Otočac’s inclusion in the final, greater investment in culture is particularly notable.
Projects aimed at improving the living conditions of young families include the construction of a new nursery and the preparation of a residential building for young people. Construction of the new nursery began in April, and the new facility is set to expand the capacity for children, improving the conditions for pre-school education. A residential building for young people is also being prepared.
The town administration states that entry into the final confirms the progress made in managing town finances, the efficiency of the town administration, and cultural spending. They added: 'Entry into the final is a recognition of our collective effort and a stimulus to continue with projects important to our citizens with even greater resolve.' The administration states that entry into the final is seen as a confirmation of past work, but also as a stimulus to continue investing in projects important for residents.
Among the indicators assessed are the average income per resident, employment, and unemployment rates relative to the population, as well as the number of self-employed individuals per thousand residents. The analysis also covers the proportion of tax revenue in total income and the average income tax rate.
The indicators for municipal finances include revenue per resident, the coverage of municipal expenditure by revenue, and revenue per employee in the municipal administration. Indicators related to families and education include allowances for newborn children, funding for scholarships and school fees per resident, and the pedagogical standard. The pedagogical standard includes, among other things, the ratio of teachers to students and the ratio of educators to children in nurseries.
