IS THE LINK BETWEEN SERBIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS’ PUBLIC POLICY GOALS AND LOCAL CIVIL SERVANTS’ PERFORMANCE GOALS STRONG ENOUGH?

Abstract

This paper attempts to explain and connect two separate processes in Serbian local governments. The first process pertains to the development of local public policies goals, which has recently been completely regulated by the Planning System Act (2018). The second process refers to the evaluation of performance of local civil servants, which is thoroughly regulated by the Decree on evaluation of civil servants (2019).Our main thesis is that public policy goals can be more than just a mere wish list only if there is a "clear and present" link between these two processes. The authors explain the basic features of local development plans, mid-term plans, local public policy documents (strategies, programs, action plans) and the performance appraisal system of local civil servants. In particular, Article 7 of the Decree on evaluation of civil servants (2019) provides the starting point for the inclusion of public policies goals into local servants‘ performance goals. However, for this connection to be put into effect, there are many other things that need to be changed in the local government regulation and organizational culture.