(Patria) - The Government of Sarajevo Canton (KS) announced yesterday that it has determined the Draft Budget of KS for 2026 in the amount of 1.9 billion KM.
The budget is designed, the Government assures, with the aim of "preserving the fiscal stability of KS, continuing the implementation of capital projects, orderly execution of social obligations, and stable financing of cantonal functions".
However, what the KS Government omitted in its brief statement, intentionally or not, is that the budget amount is closer to two billion than 1.9 billion KM. More precisely, the proposed budget amounts to 1,998,591,126 KM.
And the difference between the Government's "1.9 billion" and the actual budget amount for 2026 is 98,591,126 KM, which, you will agree, is not insignificant.
Member of the KS Assembly Jasmin Šaljić (Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina) exclusively revealed the amounts of the most significant items of the proposed budget to the Patria News Agency (NAP), and pointed out its shortcomings and deficiencies.
Šaljić explains at the beginning that the budget for 2026 has been increased by as much as 390 million KM compared to the Draft.
- Enormous debts from previous years are now coming due. Thus, in the Draft Budget, a staggering 250 million KM is allocated for debt and interest repayments. Of this, 143 million is for domestic borrowing repayment, 79 million for repayment of debts received through the state, and 32 million KM for interest repayment - points out Šaljić.
He reminds that a total of 98 million was planned for this purpose in the Draft, so this item has been increased by 150 million KM.
- The current reserve is 11,400,000 KM, planned commodity reserves in KS are 7,700,000 KM, while the accumulated deficit from previous years is 103 million KM. Planned subsidies for public enterprises are 68 million and for private enterprises around 20 million KM. This is not a development budget - it can freely be called a debt repayment budget - assesses Šaljić.
He emphasizes that, although the Draft Budget for 2026 is a full hundred million marks higher than in 2025, there is less money for almost all ministries.
- Thus, the budget for the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs and the Memorial Center has been reduced by a full 20 percent and amounts to 48 million KM. Due to this reduction from the Draft to the Proposal, funds for the purchase of apartments for veterans in the amount of 1,600,000 KM and funds for the "Zmajevac" barracks in the amount of two million KM have disappeared, and there are no funds for the Veterans' Hospital.
There is no money for the Veterans' Home in Novi Sarajevo, nor for the construction and equipping of a day hospital for PTSD, although 200,000 KM was foreseen in the Draft - says Šaljić.
For existential benefits for demobilized veterans, 7,400,000 KM is planned, for one-time financial assistance (for funerals and burials, assistance with treatment, etc.) 13,400,000 KM, and for the Ikra Fund for children's scholarships 3,300,000 KM. For marking anniversaries 390,000 KM.
- The budget for the MUP and the Police Administration of KS has been reduced by almost 50 million KM. What stands out is the item for the purchase of a helicopter - only 1,700,000 KM is allocated, while in the Draft it was 37,200,000 KM.
For pilot training, 700,000 KM is planned, for the procurement of uniforms and equipment 14 million KM. For the procurement of radar systems 1,600,000 KM, and for the training of cadets at the Police Academy 1,600,000 KM.
For the construction, reconstruction, and extension of buildings for the needs of the MUP, 1,500,000 KM, while for the project documentation for police stations in Trnovo and Ilidža, 100,000 KM each is planned - specifies Šaljić.
The Ministry of Transport and the Directorate for Roads are allocated 68 million KM in the budget, which is 35 million KM less than in 2025, when they had a budget of 103 million KM.
- There is no construction of roads of importance for Sarajevo Canton, there is no money for transversals and longitudinals - 0 KM is planned - says Šaljić.
For subsidies to public enterprises, an amount of 56 million KM has been allocated. It is planned to cover a loss of 23 million KM in public transport and to additionally finance public transport with 33 million KM.
- From the Draft to the Budget Proposal, funds for equipping and constructing tram stops for controlled ticket collection and the introduction of an electronic payment system have disappeared - emphasizes Šaljić.
He adds that 805,000 KM was planned for this purpose in the Draft, while there is nothing of the sort in the Proposal.
- Planned funds for the overhaul of buses, trolleybuses, and trams have disappeared - in the Draft it was foreseen 287,000 KM, and in the Proposal - zero - Šaljić is clear.
He points out that the Ministry of Economy of KS traditionally supports the loss-making KJP ZOI '84.
- This year too, 4,500,000 KM is allocated for supporting the company's projects, and there is also business support for this company in the amount of 1,200,000 KM - states Šaljić.
An identical amount is also allocated as business support for the Veterinary Station, while the Skenderija Center and Sarajevo Forests will each receive 900,000 KM. And for the support of preserving old traditional crafts - 0 KM.
- The budget for the Ministry of Communal Affairs is 65 million, which is 20 million less than in 2025. For general measures and environmental protection, 1,000,000 is in the proposal, and it was 4,000,000 KM in the Draft.
- For court rulings on employee lawsuits - 0 KM, for the reconstruction of buildings damaged in the war - also 0.
In order to preserve the budget item, the KS Government has allocated 100 KM for co-financing young people in resolving housing issues, 50,000 KM for housing development, and 300,000 KM for resolving issues for young people through rent.
- For the promised boiler room in Vogošća and the construction of the heating network, 200 KM. For street lighting 500,000 KM, while for the Smiljevići landfill, one million KM is planned for the establishment of leachate treatment.
- For increasing energy efficiency in individual and collective housing buildings - 0 KM. No money from the loan for clean air in the amount of 25 million euros.
- There is no money for the renewal of the vehicle fleet in cantonal public utility companies, and the situation is worse than bad. The question is - what is this ministry for and what is its purpose - concluded Šaljić in an interview with NAP.
(D.K.)
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