Audit finds serious irregularities in Municipality of Kičevo's 2024 finances
The State Audit Office issued an adverse opinion after finding shortfalls in revenue collection, procurement gaps and a PPP for public lighting worth over €6.1 million.
The State Audit Office has identified serious irregularities in the financial operations of the Municipality of Kičevo for 2024 and issued an adverse opinion on the municipality’s financial statements and compliance with legal requirements.
Auditors reported insufficient collection of the municipality’s own revenues, the existence of overdue receivables and gaps in public procurement procedures. They also found capital projects carried out without proper documentation and without professional supervision.
Concerns about a large public‑private lighting contract
Attention was drawn to a public‑private partnership for the modernization of public lighting with a contractual value of over €6.1 million with VAT and an obligation to pay over a period of 15 years. The audit found significant deviations in the procedure and in the implementation of the contract that create financial and legal risks for the municipal budget.
Inspectors also flagged shortcomings in capital investments, including the recreational park project in Zajas, where the condition found on site did not correspond to the works agreed in contract.
Other deficiencies documented by the audit include outdated records for property tax, unpaid communal fees, disbursements made without proper documentation and costs for inactive telephone numbers. The report warns that these weaknesses expose the municipality to collection shortfalls and unresolved financial obligations.
Photo: press material from the event
