Party for BiH: Citizens of Sarajevo Canton will pay the price for poor management of utility companies

(Patria) - The Cantonal Board of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo presented financial data on the operations of cantonal utility companies in the last four years, pointing to drastic losses incurred by certain public systems, particularly KJKP Vodovod i kanalizacija (Water and Sewerage) and KJKP Rad (Public Utility Company Rad).

According to the presented data, KJKP Vodovod i kanalizacija records a continuous increase in losses – from 13.2 million KM in 2021 to as much as 22.8 million KM in 2024. The total loss over four years exceeds 74 million KM. KJKP Rad, after positive operations in 2021 and 2022, entered a significant deficit in 2023 and 2024 – almost 3.2 million KM last year.

Furthermore, KJKP Sarajevogas recorded a negative financial result for the first time in 2024, amounting to almost 4 million KM, although it operated positively in previous years.

In contrast, companies such as KJKP Tržnice-pijace (Markets-Fairs), Pokop (Burial Services), Park (Parks), and Toplane (Heating Plants) continue to operate positively, but with a noticeable decrease in profit compared to previous years.

The Party for BiH claims that the KS Government has not implemented any substantial reforms in the operations of utility companies, and that the announced increase in utility service prices is presented as the only solution to save the system.

"The KS Government sees the way out of poor management in the citizens, who must now pay for all the years of missteps – through worse services and price increases," the Party for BiH announced.

They point out that utility companies have received budget subsidies for years, ranging from 20 to 30 million KM annually, but even that was not enough to prevent negative operations.

"Now that the budget is based on fabricated revenues and when there will be less and less money for utility companies, the authorities see the solution in the citizens' pockets. Responsibility is not mentioned, because the motto is 'our directors are in charge,' and citizens are the treasury to cover losses," it was stated in the announcement.

The President of the Cantonal Board of the Party for BiH Sarajevo, Almir Bečarević, concludes that the increase in utility service prices is a direct consequence of years of irresponsible management of companies and the absence of reform measures.

"Citizens of Sarajevo Canton will, unfortunately, pay the price for all of this – and without receiving better services. All of this, as always, will be paid for by the citizens. And without a gym," Bečarević stated.