It’s official: Kindergarten prices in Zagreb 25 percent lower

- We have reached a very good compromise and let’s get back to work now – that’s how the Mayor Milan Bandic finished his explanation of a new proposal for setting the prices in city kindergartens. According to this proposal, the kindergarten price will be 300 HRK per child from the 1^st January on. The proposal is the result of a compromise between SDP and Milan Bandic.

- Regarding the price of 300 HRK, you have to know that this proposal is 25 per cent lower than the model of 400 and 200 which you suggested. The real economic price is 1900 HRK and the city participates with 1600 HRK, and parents pay only 300. This doesn’t happen anywhere else in Croatia except in Zagreb. I think we haven’t been too harsh for 32 thousand of kids and for the same number of families. This proposal is in accordance with the time we live in. If we collect all this money from the parents, this will make 100 mil HRK and 700 HRK will be given from the city. You have to be aware of this fact before you finally discuss this proposal – said the Mayor Bandic warning the city representatives that every ninth HRK from the city budget goes for financing the city kindergartens. This money comes from tax and local income tax of the citizens of Zagreb and more than 90 per cent of them haven’t got any kindergarten children. Together with city kindergartens, private and religious kindergartens will be given more financial support from New Year on.

- I am happy because the participation in private and religious kindergartens is the same as in city kindergartens. This amount has been 1000 HRK till now, and from now on it will be 1600 HRK. Now there is place for a thousand more kids to join the private and religious kindergartens – Bandic pointed out. The President of the City Council Boris Sprem (SDP) was more than satisfied with Bandic’s retreat.

- We act and work in cohabitation. This situation has been created since the elections. The natural cohabitation conditions are usually formed at the elections but this is one new experience. One of the key issues we were not able to solve was the question of kindergarten prices. I’m sorry there were useless arguments about the decisions of the City Council. The executive power that doesn’t obey the decisions of the representative body has to ask itself a question about the way of going on – Sprem said and immediately explained what he would do in Bandic’s position.

- I would first apologize to the parents but I can’t because the City Council brought the right decisions. I don’t want to speculate about who is the one to apologize. I would like to do it, but I can’t – Sprem said.

- When we talk about apologies, I don’t know who to apologize to. I owe the apologies to the thousands of poor people in Zagreb. I am pragmatic and I made a proposal which can be approved – Bandic said.

The vice presidents of the Council Josip Kregar (independent) and Danira Bilic (HDZ) were satisfied that the problem is solved for the future but they both warned  that it didn’t solve the present situation.

- HDZ will accept the proposal because the uncertainty has finally gone. It would have been fine if this agreement had been reached even before. What happens with prices that parents paid or didn’t pay? This problem has to be solved. We haven’t done that yet. But we have to till the end of the fiscal year. – Danira Bilic said. The proposal about the new kindergarten prices was approved by the majority. All the representatives voted for it. There was only one vote that was restrained.