This year, Kosovo will have the highest budget in the country's history, around 4 billion euros.
Investments in education, health, infrastructure and other fields, more budget for salaries and expenses, allowances and subsidies, all of these are foreseen in this year's draft budget.
Current expenditures are expected to amount to around 2.9 billion euros, while capital expenditures are expected to amount to 998.4 million.
For the first time, public employees will receive a 13th month salary, while salaries will increase based on experience from 0.25% to 0.5% per year of work.
For the central level, excluding public debt interest payments, around 3 billion have been foreseen, and for municipalities 867 million.
An analysis conducted by the GAP Institute shows which ministries will have the highest budget.
The Ministry of Finance leads in terms of budget, over 1.1 billion euros, while the Ministry of Regional Development will have the lowest budget, around 5 million.
After the Ministry of Finance, the largest budget is dedicated to the Ministry of Environment, around 310 million, the Ministry of Internal Affairs around 248 million, and the Ministry of Defense over 216 million.
Over 110 million have been earmarked for the Ministry of Education, over 102 million for the Ministry of Health, and around 79 million for the Ministry of Economy.
Despite having four more ministries, this year's draft budget does not reflect the change.
986.7 million euros have been earmarked for capital investments.
81% of these funds, according to GAP, are dedicated to the continuation of existing projects, while around 185 million euros are for new capital investments.
And some of the largest projects that will cost the state budget the most will be the highways towards Peja and Gjilan, which are worth over 18 million euros each.
Meanwhile, the budget for the Employment Agency will increase by 8 million euros, and around 800 thousand for the Labor Inspectorate.
There has also been an increase in the budget for municipalities, where this year more funds will be allocated for salaries, goods and services, and subsidies.
When talking about municipalities, the GAP Institute has also provided clarifications regarding the non-inclusion of the Pristina budget in this year's draft budget.
It is not only the capital but also 1- other municipalities which, according to this institute, have not approved the annual budget on time, by September 30, 2025.
As a result, these 11 municipalities risk having the same budget this year as last year.
When it comes to revenues, the municipalities with the highest investments from the central level this year are: Gjilan with 30.7 million euros, Ferizaj with 21.4 million euros and Mitrovica with 19 million euros. On the other hand, according to GAP, the municipalities with the lowest investments are Gracanica, Obiliq and Zvecan./RTK
