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.
Key words: local government, public policies, performance evaluation, local civil servants,
work goals