Most will use the budget surplus for the reconstruction of the cultural center

Most - Most will transfer part of the surplus from last year's budget, amounting to over 70 million crowns, into a reserve fund. The city intends to use this later for the reconstruction of the cultural house Repre. Marek Hrvol (ProMOST), the deputy mayor, told ČTK. The costs for the largest investment of the city in recent years are estimated at 550 to 650 million crowns.

The surplus was caused, among other things, by the difference between actual tax revenues and revenues included in the budget for 2018. The city anticipated revenues of 1.3 billion crowns, and the councilors approved a deficit of about 72 million crowns. Actual revenues turned out to be higher, and expenditures lower; the city also did not realize some investments. The financial management ended with a total surplus of about 85 million crowns.

The councilors approved the transfer of about 70 million crowns from the surplus into reserves, which now holds 350 million crowns. "This is a kind of foundation for the reconstruction of Repre," stated Hrvol.

According to Hrvol, the project preparations for the repair of the cultural house are about 90 percent complete. "I believe that by the end of the year we will be tendering for the public contract; after the ball season next year we should close the building and start the reconstruction," Hrvol told ČTK. The plan includes moving the city library to the cultural house building.

The cultural house Repre is located in the center of Most, near the main street Budovatelů, right next to the town hall. The city sold the building in 2010 for 28 million crowns. In 2015, the arbitration court declared the purchase contract invalid and identified Most as the owner. A demolition order had previously been issued for the building.

The current Repre, formerly the Regional House of Culture for Miners and Energy Workers in Most, was built as a replacement for the demolished Repre building in the old Most, where most of the original buildings fell victim to surface lignite mining. The building permit was issued in 1972, but construction was not completed until 1984. The building is very intricate, with some of its above-ground parts supported by concrete columns, and on the roof, there is a dome that houses a planetarium.