City Council endorses amended 2000 budget<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): All 11 factions on the City Council endorsed on
\nTuesday the amended 2000 city budget which is set to yield a Rp
\n669.7 billion (US$77 million) surplus.<\/p>\n
In a plenary session on Tuesday, all 11 factions on the
\ncouncil stated that the surplus and the resulting increase in the
\nadministration's spending, including the purchase of 55 new
\nofficial cars for city councillors, are acceptable.<\/p>\n
Speaking after the plenary session, Governor Sutiyoso told
\njournalists that \"personally \" he did not agree with the purchase
\nof cars for councillors \"as it is not a priority\".<\/p>\n
\"But it seems we were forced to accept the demand and so we
\nhave to approve it,\" Sutiyoso remarked.<\/p>\n
Demand<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said he initially expected the councillors not to
\npress the demand as it would cost the city some Rp 5.5 billion
\n(US$625,000).<\/p>\n
Out of a total of 85 councillors, 30 of them have already
\nreceived official cars. The first batch to receive cars consisted
\nof the city council speaker, faction chairmen and senior members
\nof the five council commissions.<\/p>\n
According to information obtained from the council's
\nsecretariat, councillors will each be assigned a Hyundai Accent
\ncar with a value well in excess of Rp 100 million.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that some Rp 40 billion will be allocated in
\nthe budget for the purchase of the cars and land plots for the
\ncouncillors.<\/p>\n
Surplus<\/p>\n
With regard to the use of the budget surplus, most council
\nfactions suggested that it be used to improve public services.<\/p>\n
The Golkar Party faction highlighted the need to eliminate
\nfees for the issuing of identity cards.<\/p>\n
\"The city administration should as soon as possible introduce
\na bill to amend the city bylaw on identity cards, so that the
\npublic will not have to pay for the issuing or renewal of their
\nID cards,\" Golkar's Anna Rudhiantiana said during the plenary
\nsession.<\/p>\n
Anna added that her faction had also urged the city
\nadministration to delegate the authority to issue driving
\nlicenses to the capital's five mayoralties and improve the
\nwelfare of city employees.<\/p>\n
The largest faction on the city council, the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), called on the
\nadministration to focus on the development of small and medium
\nenterprises so as to improve the quality of life for the poor.
\n(dja)<\/p>",
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