Sarajevo Canton Budget Adopted at 989,264,434 KM

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Sarajevo Canton Assembly today adopted the Sarajevo Canton budget for 2020 in the amount of 989,264,434 KM.

KS Minister of Finance Jasmin Halebić, in presenting the KS Budget, stated that funds for healthcare, capital projects addressing youth issues, their employment, education, infrastructure, and economy have been increased in the budget.

Halebić explained that there have also been some changes to this year's budget, one of which relates to the methodology of the Federal Ministry of Finance of KS, which prevents reallocations, but also methods that will facilitate communication with the Federation of BiH.

The development budget is 170 million KM, the accumulated deficit is 33 million KM, and the previous year ended with a current surplus of five million KM. The debt of KS is 165 million KM, of which 65 percent is foreign and the rest is domestic debt.

Most of the projects financed by foreign loans relate to capital projects in the field of transport: construction of roads, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the tram line, energy efficiency project for public buildings, reconstruction of the trolleybus network and rolling stock.

Halebić announced the reorganization of public transport in KS.

Salaries for the University of Sarajevo have been increased by more than five million KM, and 105 million KM is now allocated for this segment.

More than one million KM of the current reserve from the budget is for unforeseen costs, such as assistance to businessmen who may be affected by reduced income due to coronavirus, but this will also be done in agreement with the Government of FBiH. Funds will also be planned for the prevention of coronavirus – procurement of ventilators, procurement of protective equipment for medical staff.

Compared to the Budget proposed by the dismissed Government of Edin Forto, the adopted Budget does not include the procurement of a helicopter, which was a subject of much debate.

Later in the session, the Bill on Budget Execution was also adopted.