In less than three years, the Municipality of Tirana has spent €242 million on tenders, or more than €80 million per year. Meanwhile, its revenues have increased considerably following tax increases for Tirana citizens.
For 2018, Municipality of Tirana has planned €96 million in tax revenues and other own income sources, and will receive until the end of the year about €120 million from the central government, for a total expected budget of about €216 million.
Most of the increase in revenues comes from:
— Increased construction tax – €24 million
— A newly introduced local tax on education– €7.1 million
— Increase on housing tax – € 4 million
— Business fees on using city public space – € 3.9 million
— New introduced parking fees – € 3.3 million.
Following there is a brief summary of the companies winning the highest budgeted bids of the Municipality of Tirana, since Veliaj came to office, in September 2015.
The companies absorbing most public funds under Veliaj’s governance are: Fusha, Salillari, Agi-Kons, Alko-Impex, and A&T.
Fusha shpk
Fusha has won 39 bids since December 2015, for a total value of €32 million.
Bids related to the Skënderbeg Square.In August, 2016, the Municipality of Tirana announced Fusha Ltd. as the winner of the first phase for the “Urban renewal of the Skënderbeg Square”, for an amount of € 4.2 million, or 99 per cent of the maximum fund allocated. In January 2017, Fusha Ltd. won the bid for the second phase of Skënderbeg Square renewal, as the only bidder, for an amount of € 7.1 million or 99.9 per cent of the fund allocated. In September, 2018, Fusha Ltd. got an additional € 1.56 million for this second phase of renewals.
Underground parking lot in Scanderbeg Square. In September, 2016, Fusha Ltd. won the tender for the construction of the underground parking lot in Skënderbeg Square for an amount of €1.64 million. In May, 2018, the municipality added €330 thousand as an extension in the same contract, without providing a reason. The total spending on the parking lot reached €2 million approximately.
City cleaning and maintenance. In December 2017, Fusha Ltd. won the bid for the “Supply and planting of ornamental trees in the Kamza-Kashar industrial area” for € 2.2 million, or 99.6 per cent of the total fund. Fusha Ltd. was the only bidder. In July, 2017 Fusha Ltd. won the bid for the cleaning of the Tirana IV for 2017, 2018, 2019. The winning bid amounted to € 1.4 million, or 99.5 per cent of the available fund. In February 2016, Fusha Ltd. won the bid for cleaning the Tirana East-2 area, for a total of € 353 thousand, or 99.9 per cent of the available fund. In February,2016, Fusha Ltd. won the bid for cleaning the Tirana East-2 area, for a total of € 1.4 million, or 99.5 per cent of the available fund. In March 2016, Fusha Ltd. won the bid for cleaning the Tirana East-2 area, for a total of € 5.9 million, or 94 per cent of the available fund. In December 2015, Fusha Ltd. won the bid for cleaning the Tirana East-2 area, for a total of € 276 thousand, or 99.9 per cent of the available fund. Fusha Ltd. has also won joint bids: 2T Ltd. and Fusha Ltd. won the bid for the construction of the potable water processing plant at the Bovilla Lake for an amount of € 3.2 million, or 95 per cent of the available fund. Fusha Ltd. also earned € 2.4 million in low value bids.
Salillari
Salillari has received €4.8 million in bids and € 18.8 million from a public-private partnership (PPP) contract.
Reconstructiong of the New Bazaar. In May, 2016, Salillari ltd. won the bid for the urban renewal of the Avni Rustemi Square and the New Bazaar for an amount of € 727 thousand, or 91 per cent of the available fund. In October, 2016, Salillari won the bid on the reconstruction of the water supply network for an amount of € 91 thousand, or 98 per cent of the total fund. In November, 2016, Salillari won the bid for the restoration of 4 buildings at the New Bazaar for an amount of € 1.33 million, or 99.5 per cent of the available fund. In June, 2017, Salillari ltd. got an addition of € 265 thousand for works at the New Bazaar. In June, 2017, Salillari ltd. got a second addition of € 145 thousand.
Other contracts. In December, 2017, Salillari ltd. won the bid for redesigning the children park and the construction of the underground parking lot in Str. Elbasani, for an amount of € 2.2 million, or 99.8 per cent of the available fund. In September, 2018, Municipality of Tirana signed a PPP contract with Salillari ltd. on a 33-year concession for the construction and management of the main bus station in Tirana. The total cost amounted to € 18.8 million.
Agi-Kons shpk
Agi-Kons has received €4.46 million in five bids between 2016 and 2017. It was also granted a concession through a PPP contract for the construction of one school building in Tirana for the amount of € 12.8 million.
In August, 2016, Agi-Kons won the bid for the urban renewal of Block No.1 area for an amount for €2.2 million. In October, 2016, Agi-Kons won the bid for the reconstruction of Zalli Road for an amount of €780 thousand. In July, 2017, Agi-Kons won the bid for the reconstruction of Dora D’Istria School for an amount of €540 thousand. In August, 2017, Agi-Kons won the bid for the urban renewal a small city block in the osuther part of Tirana. The total amound was € 676 thousand. In September, 2017, Agi-Kons won the bid for “Improving the water supply in the Kodra e Diellit Neighbourhood for an amount of €268 thousand.
ALKO-IMPEX has received € 5.7 million in bids from the Municipality of Tirana in the period between August 2017 and May 2018. All bids involved the cleaning of the Tirana III area.
A&T shpk has received €2.8 million in 33 bids for fuel supply to the Municipality of Tirana, and €102 thousand in joint bids.
Open Data Albania was the main source of the data used in this article.
