City Council likely to endorse proposed budget

City Council likely to endorse proposed budget

JAKARTA (JP): The City Council will likely endorse the draft
2000 fiscal year budget of Rp 3.29 trillion (US$438 million) as
none of the council's five commissions are opposed to the city
administration's proposed financial plan.

A receptive atmosphere was observed at a plenary meeting at
the City Council building, which was also attended by Governor
Sutiyoso.

Chairman of Commission A on Administrative Affairs Binsar
Tambunan, who read his commission's evaluation report on the
draft budget, only asked the city administration to allow
councillors a greater role in the city's budget design, a move
that would grant the councillors the right to propose their own
draft budgets.

"We expect city councillors will see a greater involvement in
drafting the budget," Tambunan said in a prepared speech.

Tambunan, who is a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction, also asked the city
administration to keep the allocated budget of more than Rp 12
billion for the subdistrict councils.

"Although the City Bylaw on Subdistrict Councils was
postponed, we ask the city administration to secure the budget
and to get the City Council's approval before relocating the
budget," he said.

Councillor Dani Anwar of Commission B on Economic Affairs
questioned the proposed city revenue from city-owned enterprises
of more than Rp 19 billion, when compared to more than Rp 33
billion of the 1999/2000 budget.

"It means the city administration will have to intensify
revenue from taxes and retributions to compensate for the loss,"
he said.

Commenting on the presence of street vendors, Dani, who is a
member of the Justice Party (PK) faction, said Commission B
expected the city administration would handle the problem
efficiently.

"Street vendors have created opportunities for themselves
during the economic crisis, although they have caused
inconvenience to residents," he said.

Chairman of Commission C on Financial Affairs Amarullah Asbah
of the Golkar Party faction, expected the city administration
would immediately submit a city draft bylaw on the city's asset
management to enable the council to have tighter control over the
assets.

Sayogo Hendrosubroto, who chairs Commission D on Development
Affairs, asked the city administration to pay more attention to
the public transportation sector.

"The city administration must regularly maintain the city's
streets in order to prevent damage," he said.

"We also urge the city administration to improve the city's
parking management to provide a better service to residents," he
added, while citing private sector's involvement as an
alternative.

Commission E on Social Welfare Affairs member Mulyono expected
the city administration to concentrate on measures to alleviate
poverty and recover impacts of the economic crisis.

"The budget limitation forces city administration officials to
be able to understand the hardship of residents," he said.

City councillors are slated to pass the proposed budget at
another plenary meeting next Friday. (nvn)