The municipalities react to Elbert Krasniqi's 23m-euro achievement, 126m euros in losses

Sazan Ibrahimi from the AKK said that according to the report, the municipal budget has grown from 841,040,645.99 euros in 2024 to 864,227,543.13 euros in 2025, representing an increase of about 23.2m euros. However, this growth does not reflect real support for local development.

“From detailed analysis of the spending structure, results in an increase of over 15.1m euros being spent solely on the wage and wages category, which increased from 381,092,179.50 euros in 2024 to 396,207,995.06 euros in 2025. This increase is the direct result of central-level decisions on rising salaries in the public sector, and not a policy that increases the development capacity of municipalities, said more in response.

Full response:

23m euros arrival, 126m euros loss loss
Based on MAPL Report data on the functioning of municipalities for 2025, as well as analysis of the Kosovo Communist Association (AKK), it turns out that despite a nominal growth in the budget, municipalities have not really benefited financially.
According to the report, the municipal budget has increased from 841,040,645.99 euros in 2024 to 864,227,543.13 euros in 2025, representing an increase of around 23.2m euros. However, this growth does not reflect real support for local development.
From detailed analysis of the spending structure, it turns out that from this increase, over 15.1m euros have been spent on the category of wages and wages, which increased from 381,092,179.50 euros in 2024 to 396,207,995.06 euros in 2025. This increase is the direct result of central-level decisions on rising salaries in the public sector, rather than a policy that increases the development capacity of municipalities.
In this context, only around 7.8m euros have remained for all other categories, including goods and services, municipal spending, subsidies and capital investments. This clearly shows that investment space and development projects are very limited.
On the other hand, municipalities have shown high performance in increasing their own revenues, witnessing more efficient commitment and management of local finances. However, this progress is being overshadowed by huge financial burdens that do not depend on municipalities themselves.
During the past year, municipalities have been taken over 126.6m euros as a result of judicial decisions, mainly related to obligations from collective contracts for educational and health workers, where about 27% of these means are spent on procedure costs, respectively supplements and lawyers, failing to directly conclude to beneficiaries.
The comparison is clear: while the budget has increased for about 23m euros, municipalities have lost over 126m euros, while most of the increase has been consumed for wages and wages.
This does not constitute real support for municipalities, but a mirror of a financial system where nominal budget growth is neutralised by central decisions and inherited obligations.
The municipalities do not need formal paper growth, but for real support translated into capital investments, local development, and better services for citizens.
This year alone, the Communists have been dealt with tens of millions of names from the court decisions that involve collective contracts.