Ada residents reject local self-contribution, refusing payment until 2038

Citizens of Ada, Serbia, have overwhelmingly rejected the continuation of a local self-contribution, known as "mesni samodoprinos," in a referendum. The vote means residents will not pay the levy for the next 12 years, ending a practice that dates back to the former socialist Yugoslavia.

The self-contribution requires citizens to allocate three percent of their earnings to fund local projects. However, voters expressed strong dissatisfaction, citing a lack of transparency about where the money would be allocated. "Whether a museum, a swimming pool, or something else is being built, there are no concrete details about what the money would go towards, and that's what woke people up," said Natalija Gavrić Ugarak, an observer.

Legal experts and observers also noted irregularities surrounding the referendum. Aron Čonka, a councilor, suggested that citizens felt the process was being forced upon them, with authorities believing they could push through the measure regardless of public opinion. Concerns were also raised about an outdated voter registry, leading to instances of deceased individuals receiving voting invitations. Additionally, observers reported witnessing parallel voter lists, organized transport of voters, and attempts to buy votes among socially vulnerable individuals.

The referendum's purpose was particularly questioned, as the self-contribution was originally intended for projects like the construction of swimming pools in the 1980s. "It has lost its purpose and meaning over the years because the municipality just gives money like this now, and we don't know for what," stated Snežana Mišković Guconja, a lawyer and observer. The fact that the referendum was held two and a half years earlier than scheduled also added to the confusion and distrust among residents.