Questionable proposals for 2003 budget<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Administration officials are reportedly proposing several
\n"unclear" proposals which are likely aimed to take advantage of
\nthe planned Rp 500 billion (US$58 million) increase in revenues
\nof the 2003 city budget.<\/p>\n
Commission B secretary Dani Anwar questioned a proposal of
\nadditional fund of Rp 3 billion for the City Parking Management
\nBody (BP Parkir) in the budget which was approved early this year
\nalthough the commission B did not agree with the allocation.<\/p>\n
Dani explained that the council could only approve Rp 17
\nbillion for BP Parkir, but in the final draft, the figure was
\napparently changed to Rp 20 billion.<\/p>\n
Besides the 3 billion additional fund, the parking body also
\nproposed an additional Rp 230 million for employees'
\nexpenditures, he said.<\/p>\n
Another councillor Syarief Zulkarnaen revealed another unclear
\nproposal of Rp 162 million more from the City Cooperatives and
\nSmall and Medium Enterprises Agency.<\/p>\n
"If the official most responsible for such decisions do not
\npropose the budget increase, who proposes it?" wondered Syarief,
\nwho is chairman of the commission B.<\/p>\n
He questioned the unclear proposals and brought up an issue
\nform the 2000 budget when there was a difference in the figures
\napproved for BP Parkir.<\/p>\n
Elaborating on that, he explained that in 2000, the city
\nfinancial bureau disbursed Rp 10.39 billion for BP Parkir, but BP
\nParkir only received Rp 9.8 billion.<\/p>\n
"Where did the rest of it, over Rp 500 million, go?" he asked
\npointedly.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, BP Parkir spokesperson Yani Mulyadi said he knew
\nnothing about the extra Rp 230 million that appeared in the draft
\nbudget revision allocated for employees' expenditures.<\/p>\n
On the Rp 3 billion addition, Yani claimed that it had earlier
\nbeen approved by the City Planning Agency (Bapeda).<\/p>\n
Head of Bapeda Rusdi Yusuf, who had the last look at the draft
\nbudget before it was discussed with the council, denied that
\nthere were any irregularities in it.<\/p>\n
But Rusdi put forth a bizarre argument to back up his story,
\nsaying that not all officials realized how the money was spent in
\ntheir respective agencies, particularly if it was in connection
\nwith employee welfare.<\/p>\n
"The financial bureau may add the fund needed by the agency,"
\nsaid Rusdi.<\/p>\n
The officials and councillors are currently discussing the
\nrevised city budget. The budget will be increased from Rp 11.06
\ntrillion to Rp 11.56 trillion due to a rise in revenues.<\/p>\n
Besides the unclear proposals from the officials, the
\ncouncillors also proposed such controversial items as an
\nadditional clothing allowance of Rp 434 million and Rp 9.6
\nbillion for overseas trips.<\/p>\n
If they received no public criticism, they will agree with
\neach other and make "a trade off" for their respective proposals.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/questionable-proposals-for-2003-budget-1447893297",
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