Kroměříž will not continue with the repairs of monuments due to savings

Kroměříž - The Kroměříž City Hall will not continue renovations of heritage sites in the historical center next year due to budget cuts. For the first time since 1992, it will not participate in the Ministry of Culture's program, from which it has obtained funds for the repair of its own and church properties as well as privately-owned monuments. The city has always financed part of the expenses from its budget, which it no longer wants to do. Therefore, the council decided to halt the program for next year, said Mayor Daniela Hebnarová (ODS) to reporters today.
    The city contributed approximately 300,000 to 400,000 crowns to the program each year. "Financial reasons led the council to this decision, as next year will be very complicated for the city. Every crown we spend from the budget must be carefully considered in terms of its effectiveness. We will definitely look for reserves... On the other hand, I think the program will continue in the following year and a one-year gap will not significantly affect the city's appearance," stated Hebnarová.
    However, the final decision to halt the program will be made by municipal representatives on October 20. "The regeneration program has some value; twenty years of it have somehow impacted the city's appearance. It is up to the council to decide whether it should continue or not," said Blanka Šimůnková (ODS), chairwoman of the committee for the regeneration of the city's heritage reserve and city development, to reporters. She added that while she understands concerns about the budget, she did not expect cuts to come specifically from the heritage regeneration funding.
    The committee included among the projects planned for repair next year through the program, for example, the facades of the buildings of the church school and the former Haná hotel at the Great Square, sculptures at the pharmacy U Vlčků, roofs in Vodní Street and on the Great Square, as well as repairs of two churches. In total, these requests amount to around 20 million crowns, but the ministry sends only about 1.2 to 1.7 million crowns each year, which the city then distributes.
    This year, investments in municipal monuments exceeded 2.5 million crowns. They were invested in the repairs of residential houses numbered 47 and 108 at the Great Square and 199 in Jánská Street, as well as the continuation of the reconstruction of St. Moritz Cathedral. The city received over 1.5 million crowns from the Ministry of Culture, while the remaining funds were provided by individual property owners according to the program rules and the city, from which about 377,000 crowns came from the treasury.