Belgrade Budget on the Brink of Chaos: 15 Billion Dinar Debt and 9.5% Increase Nobody Asked For!
Today, the City Assembly of Belgrade kicked off a session with a whopping 29 agenda items, and the star of the show? The budget rebalance, of course! But not just any budget – one that has ballooned by 9.5%, meaning an extra 16.9 billion dinars for the city coffers and another 16 billion for city municipalities. Yes, you read that right – billions to be spent, while citizens are left wondering where and how.
Debt That Will Cost Us Big Time
Hold on, it gets juicier! The city plans to borrow 15 billion dinars from commercial banks. That’s right, FIFTEEN BILLION! And that’s not all – an additional 35 million euros is planned to be borrowed from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a sewage system project in Palilula. Sounds like Belgrade is stepping into a financial ring with a massive debt, and the big question is: who’s going to foot the bill?
What’s Changing?
Besides the money, councilors will debate changes in the allocation of construction land, waste management, public parking, and even cooperation with the Chinese city of Xiamen. Is this the right path for Belgrade’s development, or just another way to shuffle money around while ordinary people stare blankly?
Monuments, Streets, and Parks – Or Just Smoke and Mirrors?
On the agenda are also decisions about erecting a monument to Jelena Žigon, renaming streets in several municipalities, and naming a park in Vračar. Sounds nice, but are these priorities while the budget swells and the city goes deeper into debt? Or is this just a distraction from the real issues?
Why Should We Care?
Because while these millions and billions move around, ordinary Belgraders ask – where’s my share? How will this affect life in the city? Will the money actually be invested in better services, or end up in someone’s pockets? And how much more debt can we handle before we break?
Conclusion: Belgrade on Shaky Financial Ground
This City Assembly session isn’t just another formality. It’s the moment when the fate of the budget is decided, how much debt the city will take on, and how citizens’ money will be spent. With a nearly 10% increase and massive borrowing, it’s clear we’re in for a turbulent financial autumn.
Got thoughts on how our money’s being spent? Or just want to laugh at the political circus? Drop a comment below. Maybe together we’ll figure out where those billions disappear to!
Belgrade budget, rebalance, debt, billion debts, city municipalities, sewage system, public parks, financial crisis
