Abraham responds to Murati's budget: Increase percentage

Finance, Labour and Transfers Minister Hekuran Murati has announced today that they have handed over the second circuit to the 2024 municipal budget that envisions the municipal budget increasing to 743.2m euros.

We have delivered the second circuit for the 2024 municipal budget, which envisions the municipal budget increasing to 742.3m euros. The second year is already taking place in a row that budget growth is in a qualm compared to the previous year. In absolute value, the 2024 budget increases for nearly 90m euros compared to 2023”, Murati wrote.

He has said that by the beginning of the mandate, for three years, the annual municipal budget has increased for 195m euros more.

“Success Government in better public finance management and in the collection of revenues translates into the highest budget for municipalities”, Murati wrote.

In this case, the chairman of the Association of Communists, Sazan Ibrahim, writes the Express.

He said he rejoices over any more euro going towards municipalities, but according to him 22.6% of the total budget of the Republic of Kosovo will go to municipalities next year, while 77.4% will remain at the central level.

Ibrahim declared that in 2021 it was 22.1 percent for municipalities.

According to him, the most important is increasing the percentage because monetary value increases with the increase in the state budget.

In the end, he called on the Government to consult municipalities for the passage of laws affecting them.

“we rejoice every euro that goes the most for municipalities, but only 22.6% of the total budget of the Republic of Kosovo will go to the municipality next year, while 77.4% will remain at the central level. In 2021 it was 22.1% per municipality and 77.9% for the central level. There is no substance difference in % for municipalities. These divisions come as the main result of formulas and policies that are drafted in the legislation, which has been drafted in past governments and that are in effect even now in terms of budgetary divisions. I'm always talking about the %s that separates for the municipality. The municipalities require the IV grant for capital investments, which it would add %. So % is important, because the monetary value increases with the increase in the state budget and taking into account that the government usually exceeds many million euros is normal for those inexplicable tools to be carried. In the coming year and the budget increases and with monetary budget automatism increases for municipalities, but see what the difference is to % by 2021 for the municipal budget. Government, grow % for municipalities, this is important and consult with municipalities for drafting laws affecting municipalities, not to draft laws without any preliminary consultation with the municipality”, he said.