Sarajevo Canton Budget Adopted: 20 Million KM for GRAS

Minister of Finance of Sarajevo Canton Jasmin Halebić assessed at yesterday's session of the KS Assembly that the adopted Draft Budget for 2018, amounting to 757,255,600 KM, plans for an increase in revenues and capital transfers, and a decrease in borrowing.

He explained that, among other things, 34 percent of the budget is planned for salaries and benefits of employees in institutions, 7.53 percent for materials and services, 0.5 percent for loan funds, about 2 percent for current reserves and accumulated deficit, 5.5 percent for loan obligations, and 30.2 percent for current transfers.

He also emphasized that the number of employees in KS institutions will increase to 10,730 employees, and that borrowing will amount to eight million KM. He pointed out that planned capital transfers have increased by 40 percent compared to 2017.

According to the Draft Budget, a series of significant projects financed by domestic borrowing from current revenues will continue. Among other things, 1,700,000 KM has been allocated for the purchase of apartments owned by the veteran population, and 1,050,000 KM for the allocation of cash loans for housing needs.

It is planned that 16,400,000 KM will be allocated for the Project of Construction of Roadways and Resolution of Property-Legal Relations.

In addition, within the Ministry of Transport, funds from current revenue inflows are planned for the implementation of the Conclusion of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly on capital transfer positions for the reconstruction of KJKP Gras in the total amount of 20,000,000 KM. The funds are allocated for the purchase and overhaul of buses, trolleybuses, and minibuses in the amount of 3,000,000 KM, then for the construction of tram stops for controlled fare collection and the introduction of ITS in the amount of 8,000,000 KM, for the reconstruction and investment maintenance of the tram line in the amount of 2,500,000 KM, for the restructuring program of KJKP Gras in the amount of 6,000,000 KM, and for the construction of a gas filling station for vehicles in the amount of 500,000 KM.

In addition to the projects that are continuing and the funds allocated for the implementation of the Conclusion, the project "Intersection at the Vogošća Interchange" is planned in the amount of 800,000 KM, while the Directorate for Roads of Sarajevo Canton has been allocated 1,200,000 KM for the project "Construction and Reconstruction of Intersections in Sarajevo Canton".

3,000,000 KM has been allocated for the procurement of motor vehicles for the Police Administration.

In the Ministry of Economy of Sarajevo Canton, the project "Infrastructure Development and Resolution of Property-Legal Relations in Industrial Zones of KS" is planned in the amount of 2,500,000 KM, then "Co-financing of the Hojta-Bjelašnica-Igman Regional Water Supply" in the amount of 1,950,000 KM, "Construction of New and Reconstruction of Existing Ski Slopes on Bjelašnica" in the amount of 1,000,000 KM, and "Construction of the Trnovo Business and Sports Center" in the amount of 1,000,000 KM.

1,060,000 KM has been allocated for the procurement of equipment for the Public Institution Health Center of Sarajevo Canton, and 1,000,000 KM each for equipment at the University Clinical Center Sarajevo and the Public Institution General Hospital "Prim. dr. Abdulah Nakaš".

1,500,000 KM has been allocated for the construction of the University Library, while 1,100,000 KM has been allocated for the procurement of equipment for the implementation of the "Electronic Diary" Project.

3,354,000 KM has been allocated for capital transfers to other levels of government for the construction and reconstruction of water supply and sewage networks, while 3,000,000 KM has been allocated for the reconstruction of the water supply network of KJKP VIK.

The Draft Budget of Sarajevo Canton for 2018 plans an amount of 224,116,984 KM for gross salaries and benefits, and the accumulated deficit is planned in the amount of 6,000,000 KM from the current surplus. The planned amount for the accumulated deficit also includes funds for the execution of court judgments based on lawsuits filed by employees of Sarajevo Canton.

The public debate will last for 20 days.

Deputies also adopted amendments to the Law on Traffic Regulation of KS, which change the garbage collection times in the city center. According to the new article, garbage will be collected at three times: from 9 AM to 11 AM, from 6 PM to 8 PM, and during the night from 10 PM to 7 AM. Also, the supply of business premises in the city center will be carried out between midnight and 7 AM, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, and from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

The law amending and supplementing the Law on Additional Rights of Fighters - Defenders of Bosnia and Herzegovina was also adopted.

Deputies also supported the Elaborate, specifically the initiative to establish a scientific center for inclusion support, and adopted three conclusions stating that the KS Government must establish an interdepartmental group within the next 15 days to work on this issue, tasked the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of KS to find adequate space and staff by December 15th to enable work with all children with developmental disabilities, and that the KS Government financially support the work of this center.

Proposals for decisions on expanding the scope of the Public Institution Faculty of Sports and Physical Education Sarajevo to include adult education, as well as proposals for decisions on giving consent to the text of the Agreement by which the Municipality of Centar Sarajevo and Sarajevo Canton undertake to withdraw claims and counterclaims, on giving consent to the text of the Agreement on the use of part of the business premises between the Municipality of Centar Sarajevo and KS, and the Report on the state of employment in Sarajevo Canton for 2016 were withdrawn from the session.

Deputies will vote on the information regarding the degree of implementation of assembly conclusions for which the Government of Sarajevo Canton is responsible at the next session of the KS Assembly.