The 2nd regular session of the Koroške Regional Council for the 2025/2026 term was held in Podvelka

The first item discussed by those present was Financing institutional care in CUDV Črna na Koroškem . At the request of the mayors, Director Jože Kropivnik first presented the financing of the institution. He also emphasized that in this case, the operation and financing are in no way comparable to nursing homes. Here we are talking about mental disorders, the needs and work are on a completely different level. After the deinstitutionalization of CUDV Črna na Koroškem , in which a large part of the users were relocated from the common building to residential communities across the region, the municipalities are warning of an increase of up to around 300 percent in expenditures, which they are now allocating to co-financing care payments for their citizens. They are proposing inclusion in long-term care or higher lump sums. The decision of the Koroške Regional Council is to appeal to the Ministry for a Shared Future and propose including a share of this payment in the long-term care system, rather than having the entire increase fall on municipal budgets. A letter is also being sent to the Ministry of Finance, urging them to include the cost in the creation of the new budget.

The mayors present then listened to the Annual Report for 2025 and the Work Program and Financial Plan for 2026 of the Health Rescue Center Koroške . Its director, Marijana Kašnik , presented the attendees with the operations of the past year, which they completed positively. In addition, they acquired a new ambulance, updated equipment, updated software, conducted training in accordance with the plan, acquired licensed mediators... Labor costs still represent the largest expense. Their goal is to continue to provide stable and professional public services in the future, but the need for more adequate financing is evident.

This was followed by a presentation of the proposed network of settlements in the Regional Spatial Plan Koroške of the development region (RPP Koroška), which was carried out by representatives of the company LOCUS spatial and information solutions doo. The RPP represents an important basis for the coordinated development of the region, as it connects local and national interests and defines priority areas for the development of individual activities. Special emphasis is placed on improving accessibility, developing the economy and exploiting natural and cultural potentials, which represent an important opportunity for the further development of tourism and the quality of life in the region. An important part of the preparation of the RPP is also the definition of a polycentric network of centers, which represents the basis for planning activities, services and transport connections at the regional level. In accordance with the Spatial Development Strategy of Slovenia 2050, Slovenj Gradec plays the role of a second-level center, third-level centers Ravne na Koroškem and Dravograd, and fourth-level centers Radlje ob Dravi. The RPP also examines the role of other settlements important for the development of the region, especially from the perspective of accessibility of services, supply of the rural hinterland and more even regional development. Mežica is thus defined as the fifth level center.

Other urban settlements of regional importance that do not meet the criteria for level 5 have been identified in the region. These settlements are Črna na Koroškem, Prevalje, Muta, Vuzenica, Mislinja​. Podvelka and Ribnica na Pohorju are identified as municipal centres and provide local level services. The draft RPP Koroška is scheduled to be published in early June 2026, when a public debate will also take place.

The last item was the discussion of the Regional Shelter for Abandoned Animals on Koroškem, which has already been discussed several times. In the past, there have been discussions about the location of the shelter on Muta, where a suitable plot of land was also found, but it is privately owned. After the official valuation of the land, which covers 2,500 m ² , it turned out that the estimated value is significantly lower than the land owner expects from the municipalities for the land. The mayors decided that by the next meeting, which is expected to be in June, they will consider whether they have any other land within their municipalities that might be suitable for building a shelter.