How the KS Government 'Inflated' the KS Budget to 1.88 Billion, the Minister of Finance Did Not Support It, Adoption in the Assembly Follows

(Patria) - The Government of Sarajevo Canton has determined the Draft Budget for 2025 and sent it to the assembly procedure, as Patria announced this morning.

The proposed budget, including funds carried over from the previous year, amounts to 1,888,830,720 KM, which is the largest budget of Sarajevo Canton in history. However, what is confusing in the whole story is the news from Friday, March 14, when the media reported that the Government had already determined the Draft KS Budget at that time, and that ministers from the "For New Generations" movement, Afan Kalamujić and Adna Meshihović, did not vote for the Budget.

Allegedly, they did not agree with the Draft Budget, and Kalamujić repeatedly called on his colleagues to behave rationally, stating that there was no money in the KS Budget for "popular projects".

However, the Budget was not adopted that Friday, and if it was, changes were made because an agreement was reached to increase the base for calculating salaries in the public sector from 385 to 400 KM. What will be interesting is how the Minister of Finance, who did not support the Budget, will "defend" it before the KS Assembly.

Regarding budget revenues from taxes, the actual budget is about 70 million KM lower compared to the 2024 budget, and the difference was compensated by transferring funds and projects from the previous year. To recall, the Budget for 2024 amounted to 1,530,505,602 KM.

"Despite the challenging budgetary situation, caused by the reduction of the weighting factor for Sarajevo Canton, the Government is determined to continue with the implementation of capital infrastructure projects and ensure quality services to citizens in all sectors.

The Government has also opted for a budget rebalance, in order to ensure a mechanism for control and reaction in case revenues, due to the complex geopolitical and economic situation, differ from planned ones, by monitoring actually realized revenues and expenditures," stated the KS Government.

Also, amendments to the Law on Social Protection, which will reduce financial benefits for mothers, and instead of being tied to the average paid salary in the FBiH, will be tied to the minimum wage of 1,000 KM, will soon be considered by the KS Assembly.