Outstanding liabilities increased during the first quarter of 2026, after having dropped significantly at the end of last year. According to the data, debts reached approximately 6.93 billion lek, which is 1.1 billion lek more compared to the end of 2025.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the stock of overdue liabilities of municipalities in March 2026 stood at around 3.15 billion lek, showing a slight increase compared to the end of 2025.

Although in July 2025 the Ministry of Finance officially requested local government units to draft and implement a mandatory schedule for the gradual repayment of overdue obligations, municipalities failed to settle these obligations both by the end of last year and during the first quarter of 2026.

According to the Ministry’s request, municipalities were expected to take measures for stronger financial discipline, avoid creating new debts, and use part of their revenues to repay existing liabilities.

However, the latest data from the Ministry show that in several municipalities the process has not produced the expected results. Some of them have not only failed to reduce their liabilities, but have also recorded increases in debt stock up to March 2026.

An analysis of the data shows that the five municipalities with the highest level of overdue liabilities in March 2026 are: Kavaja, Pogradec, Vorë, Tirana, and Dimal.