VIDOVIĆ: BUDGET REVENUES AT BAM 5.5, EXPENDITURES BAM 5.4 BILLION

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 26 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska Finance Minister Zora Vidović stated that total budget revenues for 2025 amount to BAM 5.5 billion, an increase of 1.2 percent compared to the first budget revision, while total expenditures amount to BAM 5.4 billion.

Explaining the Draft Second Budget Revision of Republika Srpska in the National Assembly, Vidović confirmed that its total framework amounts to BAM 6.75 billion, BAM 260 million higher than the first revision /BAM 6.49 billion/. She highlighted that tax revenues total BAM 5.065 billion, up 1.7 percent compared to the first revision. "Income from personal and corporate taxes amounts to BAM 898.5 million. Contributions to pension and disability insurance total BAM 1.843 billion. Revenues from indirect taxes align with the second revision at BAM 2.3 billion," Vidović said. She noted that non-tax revenues under the draft second budget revision total BAM 406 million, a reduction of BAM 22.3 million compared to funds planned in the first budget revision for 2025. Vidović stated that expenditures for employee salaries under the second budget revision amount to BAM 1.3 billion. She emphasized that subsidies under the second budget revision for 2025 amount to BAM 260.9 million, an increase of BAM 18 million compared to funds planned in the first budget revision. "The planned increase largely reflects higher subsidies for wage incentives for employees, totaling BAM 8.8 million, as well as subsidies to non-financial entities in trade and tourism, totaling BAM 8.2 million," Vidović highlighted. She added that social protection transfers paid from the Republika Srpska budget total BAM 552 million, or BAM 14.7 million more than funds planned in the first budget revision for 2025. Regarding the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Budget Execution of Republika Srpska for 2025, also being considered urgently by the Assembly, Vidović said that monitoring of budget execution this year showed changes in both the structure and level of realized budget funds and expenditures compared to planned allocations. She added that priorities financed from budget funds have also shifted. "The second budget revision was undertaken to achieve balance relative to the adopted 2025 Budget of Republika Srpska. This law aligns the budget framework, specifying the amounts to be allocated to individual budget users in accordance with the decision to adopt the second budget revision," Vidović explained. Today, deputies in a special session of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska are considering the draft second budget revision for this year under urgent procedure.