Water bills in Ohrid to rise from January 1

Residents of Ohrid will pay 8% more for water starting January 1. The decision adopted today by the majority on the municipal council foresees that the overall increase in bills will reach up to 16 percent by 2029. The increase will also affect local businesses, hotels and tourism operators, which are expected to face bills that are 20 percent higher. Lidija Nedanoska, a councillor from SDSM, criticized the decision, saying that the governing majority led by VMRO-DPMNE increased water utility service fees without difficulty. According to her, legal entities will pay 20 percent more over the next three years, directly burdening the citizens of Ohrid. Nedanoska said the increase is not accompanied by an improvement in service quality and that the local government is acting in the interests of public enterprises, with the aim of presenting positive financial results.