9 hours agoIbrahimi says the government has presupposed the ratification of several key laws following pressure from municipalities
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)The head of the Kosovo Communists Association, Saban Ibrahimi, has said the government of Kosovo on the legislative plan has included the administration of several key laws, such as the Law on Local Finances, the Law on Property Taxment and the Public Procurement Law. He has said that these changes come as a result of pressure from power [...]
He has said these changes come as a result of local government pressure for more financial autonomy and relief of the tax burden for citizens.
This action in my opinion could be interpreted as a reflection of the need for better co-ordination between the central government and the municipalities, but also as a kind of government issuing to adapt to local level requests”, he has said.
Ibrahimi has said the foundation of the IV Capital Investment Grant and the division of budgetary means by the Government of Kosovo has prompted reactions, especially because of the perception that some municipalities have been favoured, while others have been discriminated against in these divisions.
“In the Law on Local Finances, we believe that the Special Grant for Social Services will be introduced, which aims to support municipalities in providing social services to citizens. This grant is of particular importance to improving the conditions of vulnerable groups, such as children, older ones, disabled persons, and families in need. The flaw of this whole process is that I don't believe that implementing the Law on Local Power Finances will be implemented in 2026 because of the principles stemming from the Law on Public Finance”, he said.
Changes in the Property Tax Law have, according to him, caused serious concerns for citizens, especially when tax bills have increased to 200% in some cases. This has prompted a strong demand from the municipalities and the Association of Kosovo municipalities (AKK) for this law to be revised and amended.
The Law on Public Procurement has been another source of concern for municipalities and local authorities, mainly due to the bureaucracy and complicated procedures that are involved in the current law. This bureaucracy has created delays and blocked significant development processes, preventing the advancement of projects needed to improve infrastructure and provide local services”, Ibrahimi has said.
