In the continuation of the 181st session, the Government of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC) adopted the Proposal for Amendments to the HNC Budget for 2022, as well as the Proposal for the Law on Amendments to the Law on Budget Execution, which were referred to further parliamentary procedure, by the abbreviated procedure.
The adopted amendments to the Budget, among other things, provided funds of approximately 3 million BAM for the purchase of free school textbooks and manuals for students of all nine grades of elementary schools in HNC.
‘’In relation to the initial proposals, we made a big step forward, completely relieved the burden on our local self-government units, i.e. municipalities and cities, and provided free textbooks and manuals to all our students in primary school education. We are trying, in the time of this crisis and the rising prices of all necessities of life, to help partially relieve the family expenses of our fellow citizens. We took on the overall financial obligation to purchase all textbooks for students from 1st to 9th grade, which is now a very significant budget item. However, I am happy, and sincerely proud because this will significantly help the burdened household budgets of the residents of HNC, and in a special way help the multi-member families with several children of younger age. I only expect effort and commitment from our little ones, for a better tomorrow for them and for the whole society,” said Prime Minister Nevenko Herceg, announcing that the Government will try, in accordance with its possibilities, to persist in these forms of support for our community.
I am satisfied with the final look of the so-called Budget Rebalancing Proposal because, despite all the challenges, we managed to satisfy all the requests and demands of all departments, sectors, and local self-government units for their development, social and infrastructure projects. In the seven years of this government, we have preserved stability, opened up the development dimension of the Budget, and, year after year, increase the surplus that we direct to municipalities and cities and joint institutions, managing to continuously increase the incomes of all budget users. In the circumstances in which we live, but also in comparison with our environment, I consider the results and the achieved development budget dimension of the HNC, as well as the way this government manages to deal with all the challenges we face, a success of which I am proud,” commented the first man of the Government of HNC, Ph.D. Nevenko Herceg.
‘’It is worth noting that, with the amendments to the Budget, a significant increase in financial support during the pregnancy and childbirth of a woman-mother who is not employed is foreseen in the HNC. It is planned to pay one-time financial support to all unemployed people who are registered with the HNC Employment Service in the amount of 100 BAM per person. Items for subsistence support for veterans, as well as associations that care for veterans and returnees, have been increased.
Also, the funds for incentives to agriculture, economy, and tourism have been increased. The funds earmarked for water management were significantly increased, where the total budget allocations thus exceeded 8 million BAM, and for the maintenance of roads under the jurisdiction of the HNC, where allocations reached 14 million BAM. All obligations resulting from the new collective agreements have been fulfilled.