'Tax management lacks transparency'<\/p>\n
The city administration was unable to spend Rp 2.1 trillion of
\nthe Rp 9.7 trillion 2002 city budget on projects that would have
\nbenefited the public. Yet, it is planning to increase the 2003
\nbudget to Rp 10.6 trillion. The administration has also increased
\nvehicle taxation by 50 percent, meaning that people now have to
\npay 1.5 percent of the vehicle's market price. The Jakarta Post
\ntalked to some people on the street about the tax hike.<\/p>\n
Chris, 46, works at a foundation and lives in Cinere, South
\nJakarta, with his wife and two children:<\/p>\n
The vehicle tax hike really makes me angry. I wonder what the
\nincrease is for.<\/p>\n
It's not the amount of the increase that matters, but the tax
\nmanagement, which is never transparent and is prone to
\nirregularities.<\/p>\n
As a city resident, I have been trying to be a good taxpayer.
\nI believe that some of the taxes are allocated for the payment of
\nthe city government officials.<\/p>\n
We pay them, but in turn what do they give to us? The city
\nadministration is overstaffed. Worse still, the staff perform
\ntheir duties very poorly.<\/p>\n
Why should we pay such lazy and unproductive officials, then?
\nThe people's right to obtain good service is never fulfilled.<\/p>\n
Should tax management be transparent and city development
\nplanning be realistic, I would not have such a strong objection.<\/p>\n
More than Rp 2 trillion from the 2002 city budget remains
\nunspent as officials failed to manage it in the public interest.
\nIt clearly shows how poor their performance is.<\/p>\n
Gareng, 30, is a motorist who resides in Duren Sawit, East
\nJakarta. He is working for an international organization in
\nKuningan, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I personally object to the city administration's policy to
\nincrease the vehicle tax. It should have been imposed only on the
\nmiddle class, who have private cars.<\/p>\n
People on low incomes who ride motor cycles in an effort to
\nminimize their transportation costs find it even tougher these
\ndays to make money. Why should they bear that additional burden?
\nIt's really unfair, I think.<\/p>\n
I believe that the city administration has generated so much
\nmoney from tax, including vehicle taxes, which could have been
\nmanaged better to improve city residents' welfare.<\/p>\n
I feel skeptical about city tax expenditure. Tax management
\nand the budget allocation are not transparent at all. How could I
\nfeel that the public has its rights fulfilled after paying taxes?<\/p>\n
I guess it'll be better for the city administration to manage
\nthe city budget properly so as not to increase taxes.<\/p>\n
The most important thing is that the public should get the
\nbenefit for being taxpayers.<\/p>\n
So far the public has only benefited from infrastructure
\nimprovements such as good thoroughfares across the city. But,
\nthat's not enough.<\/p>\n
Gendon, 45, is a taxi driver who lives with his wife and seven
\nchildren in Serpong:<\/p>\n
I don't have a motorcycle or car at home. But the vehicle tax
\nincrease will affect drivers like us.<\/p>\n
At least, the taxi owner will try to raise the daily rent fee.
\nIt will be really tough on low-income people like me. Did you
\nknow that during Ramadhan most taxi drivers complain about
\nreduced income as there are fewer and fewer passengers? Besides,
\nthere are many new taxi companies, which makes for tougher
\ncompetition between taxi drivers generally.<\/p>\n
The government always forces us to pay taxes despite hardships
\ncaused by the hike in the price of various items. But, on the
\nother hand, what have we got that we deserve as taxpayers?
\nNothing.<\/p>\n
Tax allocation and management are always questionable. So,
\nit's nothing unusual for the public to object to the hike.<\/p>\n
It would be better to overhaul the economic system in a bid to
\nimprove people's purchasing power rather than increasing taxes.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tax-management-lacks-transparency-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }