Public role in budget review hailed

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso asserted on Wednesday that the public would have the opportunity to participate in revising the 2001 city budget in July.

"We cannot revoke the approved city budget, but we can accommodate criticism and suggestions for future improvements. So, I call on the community to believe in our goodwill," said Sutiyoso.

He was responding to activists from a coalition of non- governmental organizations for budget transparency, who met with city officials on Tuesday to express their disappointment with the amount of funds budgeted for development programs.

Also present at the meeting was Deputy Governor for Economic Affairs Fauzie Alvi Yasin.

During the meeting, attended by at least 50 people, the city administration and representatives of the coalition agreed to hold a follow-up discussion next week.

"It shows our goodwill and desire to accommodate public aspirations in the policy-making process," said Fauzie.

He said the final decision on the 2001 city budget amendment was in the hands of the factions in the City Council.

The head of City Council Commission C for economic affairs, Amarullah Asbah, also said revising the city budget was the jurisdiction of each of the factions in the City Council.

"Politically, the 2001 city budget is a legal product of the factions. So any changes to the budget must be taken before a plenary session of the City Council," said Amarullah.

The activists demanded that the city administration and the City Council revoke the 2001 city budget.

The City Council approved the Rp 7.49 trillion (about US$778.42 million) 2001 budget on Dec. 31, with Rp 4.98 trillion allocated for routine expenditures and Rp 2.51 trillion for development programs.

The activists, including representatives from Public Service Care, suggested the city administration allot a larger amount of funds for development programs than routine expenditures.

"It does not make sense. We found double the budget allocation (for routine expenditures), which are being funded by several financial sources," said Zoemrotin of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation.

Zoemrotin also said the city budget was not accessible to the public, given its difficult terminology.

The activists threatened to call for public action by asking people not to pay increased taxes and levies, and said they were considering filing a lawsuit against the city administration and the City Council. (07)