Strengthening the Financial Sustainability of Serbian Local Governments by Improving their Efficiency and Effectiveness
This paper examines the financial sustainability of local governments in Serbia, focusing on the historical evolution of the local government system, revenue and expenditure trends, and reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency and effectiveness. The findings indicate that while the transition to a sing...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universitas-Győr Nonprofit Ltd.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Institutiones Administrationis |
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| Online Access: | https://administrativescience.com/index.php/instadm/article/view/122/113 |
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| author | Dejan Vučetić |
| author_facet | Dejan Vučetić |
| author_sort | Dejan Vučetić |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper examines the financial sustainability of local governments in Serbia, focusing on the historical evolution of the local government system, revenue and expenditure trends, and reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency and effectiveness. The findings indicate that while the transition to a single-tier model and various reforms have provided stability, challenges remain. Key issues include limited fiscal autonomy, demographic decline, and the disparities of financial resources across municipalities. The paper highlights that although property tax decentralization and the introduction of new local revenue sources have improved revenue collection, differences in expenditure and resource allocation affect the equitable development of local communities. The paper also identifies that administrative reforms, digitalization, and inter-municipal cooperation have enhanced efficiency and service delivery, but further steps are necessary to ensure comprehensive and sustained financial health. Ultimately, it suggests that to achieve long-term financial sustainability, Serbian local governments need reforms that promote greater fiscal autonomy, equitable resource allocation, and a balance between infrastructure investment and social services, shifting towards the latter. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-586455c96be645b68a01009df35e1d55 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2786-1929 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Universitas-Győr Nonprofit Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Institutiones Administrationis |
| spelling | doaj-art-586455c96be645b68a01009df35e1d552025-08-20T03:47:12ZengUniversitas-Győr Nonprofit Ltd.Institutiones Administrationis2786-19292025-06-0151506610.54201/iajas.122Strengthening the Financial Sustainability of Serbian Local Governments by Improving their Efficiency and EffectivenessDejan Vučetić0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9140-5251University of NišThis paper examines the financial sustainability of local governments in Serbia, focusing on the historical evolution of the local government system, revenue and expenditure trends, and reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency and effectiveness. The findings indicate that while the transition to a single-tier model and various reforms have provided stability, challenges remain. Key issues include limited fiscal autonomy, demographic decline, and the disparities of financial resources across municipalities. The paper highlights that although property tax decentralization and the introduction of new local revenue sources have improved revenue collection, differences in expenditure and resource allocation affect the equitable development of local communities. The paper also identifies that administrative reforms, digitalization, and inter-municipal cooperation have enhanced efficiency and service delivery, but further steps are necessary to ensure comprehensive and sustained financial health. Ultimately, it suggests that to achieve long-term financial sustainability, Serbian local governments need reforms that promote greater fiscal autonomy, equitable resource allocation, and a balance between infrastructure investment and social services, shifting towards the latter.https://administrativescience.com/index.php/instadm/article/view/122/113local governmentserbiafinancial sustainabilityefficiencyeffectiveness |
| spellingShingle | Dejan Vučetić Strengthening the Financial Sustainability of Serbian Local Governments by Improving their Efficiency and Effectiveness Institutiones Administrationis local government serbia financial sustainability efficiency effectiveness |
| title | Strengthening the Financial Sustainability of Serbian Local Governments by Improving their Efficiency and Effectiveness |
| title_full | Strengthening the Financial Sustainability of Serbian Local Governments by Improving their Efficiency and Effectiveness |
| title_fullStr | Strengthening the Financial Sustainability of Serbian Local Governments by Improving their Efficiency and Effectiveness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strengthening the Financial Sustainability of Serbian Local Governments by Improving their Efficiency and Effectiveness |
| title_short | Strengthening the Financial Sustainability of Serbian Local Governments by Improving their Efficiency and Effectiveness |
| title_sort | strengthening the financial sustainability of serbian local governments by improving their efficiency and effectiveness |
| topic | local government serbia financial sustainability efficiency effectiveness |
| url | https://administrativescience.com/index.php/instadm/article/view/122/113 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dejanvucetic strengtheningthefinancialsustainabilityofserbianlocalgovernmentsbyimprovingtheirefficiencyandeffectiveness |