Nikola Jovanovic (Beta/Milan Obradovic)
Belgrade’s public utility companies owe vendors around RSD12 billion (i.e. over EUR100 million) which is why the local government will have to revise the capital’s budget next week, the non-governmental Centar za Lokalnu Samoupravu (Center for Local Self-Government) reported on June 19.
According to the NGO’s director, former Belgrade ombudsman Nikola Jovanovic, the debts – largely caused by the local government’s corruption – have resulted in a halt in all important public procurements.
“When this year’s city budget was being approved, we pointed out that the listed income was overestimated, while the expenses were underestimated, and that it [therefore] did not offer a realistic picture of Belgrade and would require one or even two revisions, which has now proven true,” Jovanovic explained in a written statement quoted on the Center’s website.
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