18 VOTES CANTON OF SARAJEVO ASSEMBLY ADOPTED THE DRAFT BUDGET OF THE CANTON OF SARAJEVO FOR 2025, PUBLIC DEBATE FOR 15 DAYS

(Patria) - The KS Assembly, at the continuation of today's session, adopted the Draft Budget of the KS for 2025 in the amount of 1,478,805,000 KM, and sent it for a public debate lasting 15 days. 18 deputies voted for the Draft Budget. Damir Marjanović, Admela Hodžić, and Vedrana Vikić Musić, who are part of the majority, were not present at the session, and the session was delayed because the arrival of Sanela Klarić from Naša stranka was awaited in order to have a majority for the adoption of the item.

As emphasized by the KS Minister of Finance, Afan Kalamujić, in his introductory remarks, the budget for the next year is 52 million less than the Budget for 2024.

"A novelty in this draft is that the budget, for the first time, includes planning for the estimation of deferred revenues. This was done in accordance with the federal audit, so that revenues planned to be deferred for 2024/2025 are included in this budget for the first time. The total value of planned deferred revenues is 147,500,000 KM, as estimated by budget users, and they have been included in the revenue and expenditure side of the budget for 2025. When deferred revenues are subtracted from the planned Draft, the final Draft budget for the next year amounts to 1,330,421,000 KM and is about 200 million less compared to the budget for the current year," Kalamujić emphasized.

The expected economic growth rate for the period 2025-2027 is three percent, and domestic demand, increased final consumption, and investments remain the main drivers of growth.

Projections indicate that in the coming period, revenues from indirect taxes, profit taxes, and income taxes combined will remain at this year's level in the budget for the next year.

Although these revenues will generally increase by a certain percentage, the Canton of Sarajevo will not feel this increase due to the third year of applying the reduced weight of 1.3.

"Revenues from indirect taxes belonging to the KS have increased by 12 million compared to this year, revenues from income tax have decreased by about six million KM, while revenues from profit tax have remained the same. Non-tax revenues are planned in the amount of 209.6 million KM. Revenues from administrative and court fees have been reduced by about 10 million KM, and revenues from fines have been reduced by six million. According to official information from the Federal Ministry of Finance, next year we cannot count on the transfer of the Federation of BiH to the KS within the planned transfers to other levels of government, so the planned amount of 36 million KM will be excluded from our budget for 2025," stated Minister Kalamujić.

Minister Kalamujić also presented the planned expenditure side of the budget to the deputies and the public, where the largest items relate to salaries, benefits, and contributions for 16,291 employees in the public sector, followed by current transfers based on legal allocations in all areas, as well as planned capital projects, i.e., the creation of new value in the KS.

According to him, the planned domestic credit debt of the Canton of Sarajevo amounts to slightly more than 106.9 million KM, of which 44 million KM are new borrowings and 62.9 million KM are carried over from the previous period. Along with their detailed presentation, he also pointed out plans for new projects and loans for their realization.

The draft budget will be available to the public on the website of the KS Assembly, and all public entities to which the budget applies can provide their feedback through a public debate.

The KS Assembly also adopted the Draft Law on the Execution of the Budget of the Canton of Sarajevo for 2025.