Councilors ask for more work on city budget

Councilors ask for more work on city budget

JAKARTA (JP): City councilors suggested on Wednesday the
Jakarta administration further refine the proposed 2000 City
Budget while also asking for a detailed explanation of several
parts of the Rp 3.295 trillion (US$438.6 million) draft budget.

In a hearing with the city administration's top officials, the
councilors reviewed the effectiveness of the administration in
raising larger revenue to finance the city budget, particularly
due to the possible enactment of laws on regional autonomy next
year.

They also insisted that the city administration, among others
things, immediately urge the central government to revoke Law No.
18/1997 on Regional Taxes and Levies.

According to the councilors, the law prohibits the
administration from increasing its revenue to fund its own
budget.

"City councilors and officials must work together to revoke
this law because it has played a significant role in shrinking
the city's revenue," Mukhayar RM of the Justice Party (PK)
faction said in a written statement.

He received support from fellow councilors, including Totok
Ismunandar from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan).

Last Friday Governor Sutiyoso delivered a proposal of the 2000
City Budget, effective from April 1 to Dec. 31, to the city
councilors.

Sutiyoso did not appear at the hearing on Wednesday, instead
represented by Deputy Governor for Economic and Financial Affairs
Fauzie Alvi Yassin.

Councillor Posman Siahaan of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP)
suggested another approach to increasing revenue.

"It's more important to provide a good and professional
service to residents and at the same time city officials have to
prevent financial leakage," he suggested.

The Indonesian Military (TNI)/National Police faction called
on the administration to make significant efforts to be more
thrifty, such as by halting spending to finance the maintenance
costs for official cars used by city officials.

M. Soekiyadhi of the faction even proposed the administration
stop providing official cars to its staff.

"The city administration could actually provide a private car
ownership loan for the officials instead," said

Many of the councilors urged the administration to focus more
on businesses.

They suggested, for example, the privatization of the City
Parking Agency which would help the administration to earn more
revenue.

"We'll propose later that the city administration collect a 25
percent share from the total revenues earned by the privately-
owned parking companies," said Anna Rudhiantiana of the Golkar
Party.

Totok of PDI Perjuangan also questioned the reasoning of
Sutiyoso's administration in putting the parking revenue target
during the nine-month period at Rp 16 billion, in which Rp 14
billion of the total would be allocated for operational costs.

"What kind of trick is this?"

Totok, therefore, wanted the administration to reveal details
of the proposed operational costs in the city's parking sectors.

According to Muchayar, the administration could also merge
city-owned companies in related sectors in an attempt to simplify
the control over the use of the money.

Councillor Chudlary Syafi'i Hadzami of the United Development
Party (PPP) faction recommended the administration drop its plan
to allocate over Rp 19.77 billion to the City Tourism Agency
since the agency was not effective in attracting tourists.

"It's better to allocate that large amount of money to the
City Investment Coordinating Board (BKPMD), which could hold
promotional activities abroad to lure foreign investors," he
said.

The councilors also questioned the administration's reason for
allocating a small amount of money to important sectors.

Halim Asyhari of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said the
proposed spending for education in the capital at some Rp 67.5
billion during the period was extremely inadequate.

"It's important for schools to be sufficiently equipped with,
for example, laboratories and other standard equipment," he said.

Saman Husni of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) faction said the
maintenance budget for offices, schools and health centers at
about Rp 150 billion was also obviously too small.

"The amount may seem quite big but there are a lot of schools
and health centers to be renovated, especially those which are
inundated every year," he said.

Most councilors also asked the city administration to reveal
in detail all projects described in the proposal.

Governor Sutiyoso is slated to deliver his response on the
councilors' remarks on the draft budget next Monday in a similar
hearing at the council. (09/nvn)