KS ASSEMBLY At the end of 2022, there was a surplus of almost 56 million KM, and now Sarajevo Canton is in the red by more than 80 million KM

(Patria) - At today's continuation of the KS Assembly, deputies are discussing the Report on the Execution of the Budget of Sarajevo Canton for the period from 01.01. to 31.12.2022.

However, this point also opened questions about the current financial situation, given that Sarajevo Canton is in financial trouble. The audit report for 2023 showed that KS has a deficit of 80 million KM.

Deputies from the ruling parties spoke about the reduction of the weighting factor for Sarajevo Canton and that this affected the reduced inflow of VAT money into the KS Budget.

Head of the SDA Club, Mahir Dević, stated that this is about the creation of financial policies, i.e., the capabilities and incapacities of those who lead the Canton and the Ministry of Finance.

Regarding the KS Budget for 2022, a surplus of 55,713,494 KM was achieved.

"After all due obligations were settled, and borrowed funds were recorded, the balance of all loans as of 31.12.2022 amounts to 346,939,939.61 KM. In the period from 01.01. to 31.12.2022, revenues and receipts in the amount of 1,202,987,363 KM were achieved, and expenditures and expenses in the amount of 1,147,273,869 KM were executed," the Report states.

DF deputy Marijela Margeta-Hašimbegović pointed out that all deadlines for the adoption of this report have been missed.

"We are obliged to leave an image of a body that is accountable to the laws it passes. I believe this is an inappropriate attitude of the KS Assembly towards this document. It is very important to protect the budget just as we protect the interests of the citizens. There are significant loan commitments for ZOI '84, Skenderija, and we do not see progress in these companies. I am not accusing anyone, but all these delays, all this unsystematic work leads me to form such an attitude towards the work of this Assembly," said Margeta-Hašimbegović.

Deputy Vedrana Vujović (DF) reminded that this session began on November 15, 2023, which shows that such an important document is now being adopted two years after this budget.

"For two years, we have been hearing about the weighting factor and how it will negatively affect the KS Budget. But the citizens did not elect you to make excuses, but to find ways to overcome that loss. We, as opposition deputies, questioned whether KS can bear the loan commitments. You convinced us that it can. We should use the benefits of the European Union and its funds to try to overcome the negative consequences of this weighting factor," said Vujović.