Subdistrict councils cost Rp1.5b a month<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will have to spend at
\nleast Rp 1.5 billion (US$160,000) every month when subdistrict
\ncouncils make their debut in February.<\/p>\n
Head of the City Subdistricts Administration Office Kusnan
\nsaid on Tuesday most of the funds would be used to pay monthly
\nsalaries of 2,646 subdistrict council members across the city.<\/p>\n
Kusnan said each subdistrict council member, representing a
\ncommunity in a subdistrict, would receive Rp 500,000 per month in
\n\"honorary remuneration\". The city administration will also
\nprovide each council Rp 200,000 monthly for transportation
\nallowances to be shared among council members.<\/p>\n
There are 265 subdistricts across the city.<\/p>\n
A subdistrict council will also receive Rp 500,000 per month
\nfor its meeting expenses.<\/p>\n
\"The funds to finance the operational costs of subdistrict
\ncouncils will be taken from the 2001 city budget under a special
\nitem,\" Kusnan said.<\/p>\n
City Bylaw No. 5\/2000 stipulates that a subdistrict council,
\nwhose members are elected for five-year terms, serves as a bridge
\nbetween people and the local administration.<\/p>\n
\"People are able to channel their aspirations to the city
\nauthorities through the council, and in return, the council is
\nobliged to inform and promote new city policies and regulations
\nto the people,\" Kusnan said.<\/p>\n
Many observers, including former director general of regional
\nautonomy Ryaas Rasyid, have suggested that subdistrict council
\nreplace the current Community Resilience Institution (LKMD).<\/p>\n
According to the bylaw, election of subdistrict council
\nmembers is conducted in two stages.<\/p>\n
A candidate must win the most votes in the first election held
\nat the neighborhood unit (RT) level. And the election must be
\nattended by at least two thirds of the neighborhood unit.<\/p>\n
The second round is held by the community unit (RW), featuring
\nfirst stage winners who vie for a place in the subdistrict
\ncouncil.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor for Government Affairs Abdul Kahfi has said
\nthat all subdistricts across the city should have formed their
\ncouncils by the end of this month.<\/p>\n
Contacted separately, spokesman for the city administration
\nMuhayat said on Tuesday the timeframe would be flexible, advising
\nthat the gubernatorial decree stipulating the election procedures
\nhad only been issued on Jan. 19.<\/p>\n
When asked about some community units which had already chosen
\ntheir representatives for the second round of the election before
\nthe decree was issued, Muhayat said the city authorities had
\nordered those elections be repeated. (04)<\/p>",
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