Nikola Jovanović, director of the Center for Local Self-Government, stated that the proposed rebalancing of Belgrade’s 2025 budget, which will be discussed at the City Assembly session tomorrow, anticipates a deficit of 11.3 billion dinars. He described this as the worst fiscal result in Belgrade in the past decade, warning that such a deficit is pushing the city towards financial disaster and the brink of bankruptcy.
Jovanović emphasized that the deficit is not due to capital investments, but rather the difficulties faced by the Secretariat for Housing and Communal Affairs, General Affairs, and Inspection in carrying out their regular duties. He criticized the mayor for creating this significant deficit over the last year while personally benefiting from receiving a five-room apartment as a gift, calling it a major scandal.
He urged all councilors in the Belgrade Assembly to reject the proposed budget rebalancing, arguing that it unfairly burdens future generations and future city administrations with the consequences of the current mayor’s mistakes.
