Luxurious lives of councillors

Luxurious lives of councillors

From Koran Tempo

The 2004 budget for the Surabaya City Council is Rp 32.42 billion, Tempo Interaktif reported on Jan. 13. This large sum includes Rp 1.8 billion for miscellaneous expenses and Rp 4.2 billion for "special allowances".

These two budget items, which are not transparent, are lumped in with the routine expenditures and councillors' allowances, which total Rp 29.783 billion.

Amid government attempts to cover the state budget deficit with loans and the sale of state companies, the city council's budget is fantastical as it involves 8 percent of Surabaya's locally generated revenue.

It seems that the tough struggle on the part of regional legislative candidates to secure their seats is prompted by the luxurious life they expect to enjoy as councillors.

ASEP Jakarta