The purpose of the partnership between the Union of Municipalities (UoM) in Montenegro and the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) was to strengthen the capacity of UoM to serve as an advocate within the political system for increased local autonomy, promote professionalism in local government, and help nurture the municipal management capacity required by a democratic system.

During the technical exchanges of the partner associations, the participants benefited from site visits, workshops, and seminars on such topics as the role of municipal associations in local government advocacy, municipal finance and budgeting, infrastructure management and maintenance, local election systems, and the Government of Montenegro’s reform program. As a result of the partnership efforts, a majority of municipalities reached consensus to lobby for direct election of mayors and to eliminate the influence of political parties in local governance.

The Ministry of Finance requested regular ongoing roundtable discussions and workshops between the ministry and all municipal finance directors with the aim of achieving improved budgeting practices and necessary reform legislation, and the Ministry of Justice invited UoM to appoint members to review and recommend policy changes in 16 key areas of local governance. The partnership led to the active participation of UoM in the legislative process. Key laws pertaining to local governments were drafted, agreed upon, and sent on to the Parliament. These laws include the Law on Local Self-Government and the Law on Intergovernmental Finances.

In addition to the direct assistance to UoM, MMA provided on-site technical assistance to five UoM member municipalities in the implementation of the property tax law. The assistance focused on property assessment techniques as well as setting up the land registry and defining property taxes. The input that the MMA representatives provided in this field enhanced the capacity of the Montenegrin municipalities to levy property taxes.