Draft Law on the Budget of BiH Institutions for 2019 Adopted

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Council of Ministers of BiH unanimously adopted the Draft Law on the Budget of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2019, which the Ministry of Finance and Treasury will submit to the Presidency of BiH, responsible for its proposal.

Total revenues, receipts, and financing of BiH institutions in 2019 amount to BAM 966,000,000, which is BAM 16 million more, and external debt servicing amounts to BAM 825,760,678, which is BAM 178,301,651 less than in the previous year. The revenue structure is dominated by the levy from the Single Account in the same amount as in previous years, BAM 750,000,000.00.

An increase in the budget by BAM 16 million has secured funds for salary increases for police officers in accordance with previous decisions of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH.

Civil servants and employees in BiH institutions will have their meal allowance returned to the 2012 level from July 1, 2019, if the budget of BiH institutions enters into force by then. The meal allowance was reduced from eight BAM to six BAM, thus fulfilling union demands. The exception are elected and appointed officials at the BiH level, whose meal allowance remains at six BAM.

Total expenditures of Bosnia and Herzegovina institutions and servicing of BiH's external debt in the Draft Budget amount to BAM 1,791,760,678, and are eight percent, or BAM 162,301,651, lower compared to 2018.