The mayor of Grosupel, Verlich, with two million euros for a house designer.

The mayor of Grosuplje, Peter Verlic, has allocated two million euros for the design of a new residential project, according to local reports. The decision has sparked controversy among residents who accuse the mayor of wasting public funds on an unnecessary and overly ambitious project for their small municipality. The planned construction of a new cultural center continues to raise concerns, with some citizens claiming it represents one of the largest financial commitments in the town’s history. Initially, the council had proposed building a new cultural-administrative complex, which would include a cultural center, music school, and administrative office for the municipal government and other public institutions. However, due to high costs, the plan was revised to focus solely on constructing the cultural center, while the administrative building would be delayed. The project was originally conceived in 2019 as part of Ljubljana's bid for the European Capital of Culture 2025, with support from 25 municipalities including Grosuplje. Ultimately, the title was awarded to Nova Gorica. The current project aims to replace the outdated facilities currently used by the cultural center and music school, which no longer meet the needs of the modern community and broader region. It is considered the largest project the municipality will undertake in the coming years. The design process has been subject to review and revision, particularly regarding the project documentation required for obtaining a construction permit and the implementation plan. A public competition was held, and the task was assigned to Format 23, a company owned by Branko Burnac. The initial tender value for the project, which included two levels of basement, a cultural hall with a music school, and a multi-purpose hall for 600 visitors, along with an administrative building and main square, was estimated at 36 million euros. However, the scope was later reduced to the first phase, focusing on the construction of one level of basement, the cultural hall, and the square. This adjustment led to a reduction in the estimated cost to approximately 25 million euros. The project documentation was submitted for evaluation, and after obtaining the necessary permits, the municipality proceeded with the planning and design phases. According to official records, the value of the project documentation was determined through the tender process and amounted to 2,470,000 euros before tax. Following the acquisition of the construction permit, the municipality paid 884,754 euros before tax for the project documentation. From 2023 onwards, the municipality has continued to make payments to Format 23, with a total of 2,116,051 euros disbursed, including 1,079,399 euros in the current year alone. These figures align with claims made by dissatisfied residents, who have pointed out that the municipality has spent more than two million euros on this firm over the past few years. The payments include work on other projects, such as the renovation of the project documentation for the Brinje football stadium. The ongoing debate highlights the tension between the municipality’s ambitions and its limited resources, raising questions about the prioritization of public spending in a smaller community. As the project moves forward, further scrutiny of its financial implications and alignment with community needs will likely continue.