Councillors question budget revision<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Construction of two new busway corridors could come to a halt
\nshould the majority of Jakarta councillors reject the city
\nadministration's proposal to use some of the Rp 863.52 billion in
\nreserve funds to finance the project.<\/p>\n
During opening talks on Saturday and Sunday between city
\nofficials and the council's budgetary committee to discuss
\nrevisions to the city budget, several councillors questioned the
\nurgency of the project.<\/p>\n
\"I cannot agree with the plan to use reserve funds to finance
\na commercial project such as the busway expansion,\" committee
\nmember Syamsidar Siregar told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"The reserve funds should only be used for emergencies such as
\nhelping victims of disasters -- floods, fires or disease
\noutbreaks.\"<\/p>\n
The marathon talks were the first on the city's request to use
\nRp 240 billion of reserves funds to beef up its Rp 571.86 billion
\nadditional budget. The additional budget would increase the
\napproved 2004 city budget from Rp 12.25 trillion to Rp 12.83
\ntrillion.<\/p>\n
Although the budgetary committee does not have the authority
\nto make changes to the proposed budget revision, it could add a
\nfootnote indicating its opposition to the use of reserve funds
\nfor subsequent meetings with other council members.<\/p>\n
According to the head of the City Planning Agency, Achmad
\nHarjadi, Rp 52 billion of the proposed Rp 240 billion in reserve
\nfunds would be used to construct two new busway corridors and to
\nimprove services along the existing busway route between Blok M,
\nSouth Jakarta, and Kota, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The new corridors, on which construction began in June, were
\nexpected to be operational next year.<\/p>\n
Harjadi said another Rp 100 billion would be used to purchase
\nland for the East Flood Canal project, while the remaining funds
\nwould pay to renovate several schools.<\/p>\n
The chairwoman of the council's Commission C overseeing
\nfinancial affairs, Anna Rudhiantana, is also taking a cautious
\napproach to the administration's proposed budget revision.<\/p>\n
She cited Bylaw No. 10\/1999 on city reserve funds, which
\nstates that the funds must be used for situations of force
\nmajeure or to finance unfinished projects. In times of emergency,
\nthe governor can use the funds without having to obtain the
\ncouncil's approval.<\/p>\n
\"If the administration wants to use the funds for unfinished
\nprojects, the governor should first make a detailed report on the
\nprojects to the council. Regarding the busway project, we have
\nyet to see such a report, if there is one,\" she told the Post.<\/p>\n
The city administration has said the main source for the
\nadditional funds would come from an expected increase in revenue
\nfrom vehicle taxes and transfer of vehicle ownership taxes.<\/p>\n
Council deputy chairman Ibnu Sumantri said the council had to
\nfinish the discussions on the proposal before it ended its term
\non Aug. 25.<\/p>\n
I-Box<\/p>\n
Proposed city budget revision for 2004 fiscal year (in rupiah)<\/p>\n
No. Explanation Approved budget Revision<\/p>\n
1. Revenue 10,003,671,647,000 10,961,471,647,000<\/p>\n
2. Spending 12,203,345,734,000 12,775,208,846,000<\/p>\n
-------------------------------------------<\/p>\n
Deficit\/ 2,199,674,087,000 1,858,737,199,000<\/p>\n
surplus<\/p>\n
3. Financing<\/p>\n
- Surplus 2,24,944,087,000 1,664,007,199,000<\/p>\n
in 2003<\/p>\n
- Reserve 240,000,000,000<\/p>\n
funds<\/p>\n
- Spending 55,270,000,000 55,270,000,000<\/p>\n
Total budget 12,258,615,734,000 12,830,478,846,000<\/p>\n
Source: Jakarta administration<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/councillors-question-budget-revision-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }