Supervisor Gregorian Suspends Salaries to the District Government and the Assembly

Brcko Supervisor Raffi Gregorian today issued an Order immediately suspending payments of salaries and all remunerations to the members of Brcko District Government and councilors of the Assembly of Brcko District for violating the Brcko District Statute by failing to adopt the 2008 Brcko District Budget  by the required deadline.

The Supervisor is disappointed that the Government of Brcko District of BiH, after timely submission of the proposed budget plan by October 1st, 2007, and after public discussions had been held, decided only last week to introduce more than 150 amendments, including a significant revised projection of revenues, thus in essence presenting an entirely new budget.

The Supervisor is also disappointed that the absence of a significant number of councilors on travel in Europe de-capacitated the Assembly to commence substantial discussions of the proposed budget plan in a timely manner. Furthermore, heads of caucuses whom the Supervisor met with last week gave him assurances that the budget would be passed in time or on Monday, December 3, 2007 at the latest.

Thus the District Government collectively failed to prepare an accurate and reliable draft budget for 2008 and the Councilors of Brcko District Assembly have collectively failed to review and adopt it in a timely manner.

The Supervisor warned both the Government and the Assembly more than two months ago that he would take such action if they violated the Statute. He therefore regrets that he has had to intervene because of the apparent lack of understanding by the elected bodies of governance for the importance of a timely and orderly discussion and adoption of the budget and for their disrespect of the Statute.  He urges the Assembly to adopt the 2008 budget as soon as possible.