Tegeltija: Amidžić and Vidović are blocking the harmonization of coefficients for the distribution of Indirect Taxation Authority funds, and we lack expert staff

(Patria) - An attempt is being made again to involve politics in the work of the Authority, which is wrong and harms the work of the most significant financial institution in BiH, which is recording historic revenues, stated the Director of the ITA, Zoran Tegeltija, during today's public hearing of the members of the Authority and its Steering Board before the Committee on Finance and Budget of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly.

Tegeltija stated that external audits have not found any irregularities in the work of the Authority so far, but added that they are always ready for the re-engagement of external audits, but that it is a waste of money.

Regarding the coefficients for the distribution of funds from the ITA BiH accounts, which have not been harmonized for over a year, Tegeltija confirmed that the BiH Minister of Finance, Srđan Amidžić, and the RS Minister of Finance, Zora Vidović, are blocking this until a settlement is reached, according to which the Federation has owed the Republika Srpska 30 million marks for 10 years.

He stated that final consumption is not carried out by municipalities, cities, and cantons, but by entities, and that entities are responsible for distributing VAT revenue to lower levels of government.

Tegeltija emphasized that the ITA BiH has huge problems with infrastructure as well.

"Most border crossings are inadequate, there is a lack of funds for construction and maintenance. A budget of 500,000 KM is not enough," stated Tegeltija during the hearing.

Mira Pekić, a member of the Committee, asked why the ITA does not invest money in infrastructure and whether the 100 million KM for capital projects will be spent on the building in Banja Luka.

"Why do you reject parliamentary initiatives such as the return or abolition of VAT on equipment and baby food? Do you lack expert staff, and in which positions?" Pekić asked.

He confirmed that there is a lack of expert staff in all positions.

"An inspector's salary is only 2,000 marks. Nobody wants to work for 2,000 marks. That's what a waiter earns in Banja Luka," stated Tegeltija.

He said that yesterday was the deadline for picking up tender documentation, and 25 companies picked it up, including media outlets and some non-governmental organizations, regarding the public call for the purchase of the ITA building.

Otherwise, only the Director of the ITA, Zoran Tegeltija, and a member of the Steering Board, an expert from the Federation of BiH, Zijad Krnjić, responded to the invitation for the hearing.

Ministers Srđan Amidžić, Zora Vidović, and Toni Kraljević reported that they were on an official trip outside of BiH, and the expert from the Republika Srpska, Dalibor Tomaš, resigned from his membership in the Steering Board of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH.

As announced by the Committee, the public hearing will continue on April 16, when the Chairman of the Steering Board of the ITA BiH and the BiH Minister of Finance and Treasury, Srđan Amidžić, the member of the Steering Board of the ITA BiH and the Minister of Finance of the Federation of BiH, Toni Kraljević, and the member of the Steering Board of the ITA BiH and the Minister of Finance of the Republika Srpska, Zora Vidović, will be invited.

Upon completion of the public hearing, the Committee will submit the Report on the Public Hearing of the members of the Steering Board of the ITA BiH and the Director of the ITA BiH to the House of Representatives of the PSBiH.