Montenegro has approved additional funding from the current budget reserve for the State Audit Institution (DRI), following industrial action over salaries that disrupted parts of its audit work and raised concerns about the timely completion of parliamentary reporting on public finances.
Additional Budget Funding for Auditors
The government instructed the Finance Ministry to transfer additional funds to enable the implementation of revised professional grading rules. Authorities also expect the salaries of state auditors to be brought into closer alignment with judicial salaries, although this adjustment remains a planned change.
The decision follows disruptions to the DRI’s operations, including procedures concerning the government’s final budget accounts. The institution must submit its audit report to parliament within the established deadline, making the resolution of the salary dispute relevant to the completion of its statutory responsibilities.
Role in Public Finance Oversight
As Montenegro’s highest external public-sector audit body, the DRI examines whether government revenue and expenditure comply with budget legislation. Its reports provide parliament with an independent assessment of public-finance management and budget execution.
The disruption comes as Montenegro expands public investment and prepares its budget. Delays in the institution’s work could affect parliamentary scrutiny of government finances during a period involving major infrastructure programmes, EU-funded projects and potentially costly public-sector wage reforms.
Salary Framework Still Requires Implementation
The additional allocation from the budget reserve is intended to address the immediate funding issue and allow the revised professional grading rules to take effect. However, the longer-term framework for aligning auditors’ salaries with judicial pay has not yet been fully implemented. Maintaining the DRI’s operational capacity is increasingly relevant as government expenditure becomes more complex. The institution’s oversight responsibilities cover the use of public funds, while its audit findings support parliamentary examination of whether spending and revenue management comply with applicable budget rules. The immediate priorities are the implementation of the additional funding, the restoration of normal operations and the submission of the audit report within the required deadline.
