The budget of the General Secretariat of the Government for the next year is planned at almost six million euros (5.931.033), of which at least 450 thousand euros will be spent on the net earnings of the seven vice presidents and their 20 advisers.
After the reconstruction of the Government Milojko Spajić, which was voted by the parliament at the end of July, the number of vice presidents was increased by three (to a total of seven), who currently have 20 advisors. Five new ministries were also introduced, as well as a minister without portfolio.
The General Secretariat did not precisely answer the questions of "Vijesti" about the costs for the vice-presidents and their advisors next year, stating that they are covered by a part of the total of 2,8 million euros in the budget proposal, provided for "professional and administrative support work" on the realization of the constitutional competences of the Government in the General Secretariat".
"Within Activity 11 049 001 002 - Provision of professional and administrative support for the realization of the constitutional competences of the Government, funds in the total amount of 2.877.509 euros are provided, partly for the functioning of the seven offices of the Deputy Prime Minister, i.e. the corresponding funds for gross salaries and other expenses ", said the General Secretariat.
As they said, about 2.018.506 euros (net about 1,65 million) is planned for gross earnings in the General Secretariat, which is about 200 thousand euros more than this year's budget. This amount includes the payment of gross wages for the offices of the Deputy Prime Minister.
"We note that it is about planned budget funds, but that all vice presidents have not appointed persons to all advisory positions available to them," said the General Secretariat.
The Deputy Prime Ministers are Aleksa Becic (for security, defense, fight against crime and internal policy), Momo Koprivica (for political system, judiciary and anti-corruption), Nick Djelosaj (for economic policy), Budimir Aleksic (for education, science and relations with religious communities), Ervin Ibrahimovic (for international relations), Filip Ivanovic (for foreign and European affairs) i Milun Zogović (for infrastructure and regional development).
Bečić, who is also the leader of the Democrats, has five advisers, as does his party colleague Koprivica.
The leader of the Albanian Alternative, Nik Đeljošaj, has three advisers as vice president. Đeljošaj is also the Minister of Economic Development.
And Ibrahimović (the leader of the Bosniak Party) has three advisers as the Deputy Prime Minister, and he also covers the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Aleksić (New Serbian Democracy) and Zogović (Democratic People's Party) each have two advisors, while Filip Ivanović (PES) has no advisors.
According to the latest published data, a total of 13,9 thousand euros was allocated for the salaries of the Deputy Prime Minister in October. This would mean that for their net earnings in the next year, if there are no additional increases, a total of around 167 thousand euros should be set aside.
According to data for October, published on the Government's website, a total of 15 thousand euros was allocated for the salaries of 18,9 advisers to the vice president. Information is missing for three advisers to Ibrahimović (Adalet Pecovic, Mirza Muratović i Adel Nurković) and two advisers to Zogović (Predrag Bulatović i Milena Đurović) because they were appointed to those positions in late October and early November.
If the advisors for whom the data is missing received an average salary, which, according to Monstat data, was 944 euros in October, they would receive a total of 4.720 euros per month. This means that at least 283 euros will be allocated for the advisers of the vice president next year.
The government has prepared a Draft of Amendments to the Law on Wages in the Public Sector, with which it plans to increase wages by 30 percent in the coming year through the increase of coefficients for the calculation of wages, for all public officials. If the Parliament adopts the law, this will cost the citizens 8,5 million euros annually.
Increased expenses for official trips to 150 thousand
The total budget of the General Secretariat for the next year has increased by around 127 thousand euros compared to this year.
Within the item, which refers to the provision of professional and administrative support, which covers the vice presidents and their advisers, expenses of 25 thousand euros are foreseen for fuel, ten thousand less compared to this year's budget.
On the other hand, expenses for official trips have increased, from 85 thousand euros to 150 thousand, as well as the expenses of the national team, which are planned to be 20 thousand euros (5,5 thousand more compared to this year).
The costs of communication services were increased by 4,5 thousand to 60 thousand euros, while the expenses for work contracts remained at 140 thousand euros, as in this year's budget.
A total of 1,2 million euros for Spajić's cabinet
The 2025 budget for the Cabinet of the Prime Minister is planned at 1,2 million euros, about 100 thousand euros more than this year's.
An amount of around 880 euros is planned for gross earnings, 30 euros more than this year's budget.
Planned expenses for fuel were increased by two thousand euros to nine thousand, while the costs of official trips for the next year were reduced by 28 thousand euros to 120 thousand.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić has a chief of staff and nine advisers.
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