Subdistricts given more autonomy over finances
Subdistricts given more autonomy over finances
JAKARTA (JP): More than 260 subdistricts in the city now have
greater freedom in managing their own finances under a bill on
the subdistrict financial management system just passed by the
City Council.
The bill, which was approved by the council during a plenary
session on Wednesday, is also aimed at facilitating the
subdistrict offices to improve their services to the community.
The law gives the authority to subdistrict offices, apparently
in cooperation with the newly established subdistrict councils,
to formulate their own routine and development budgets. This
budgeting was formerly determined by the governor's office.
Sutarno, chairman of the City Council's Commission A on
administrative affairs, proposed a budget of Rp 300 million
(US$139,000) for each subdistrict per year.
The bill had been drafted by the executive branch after a
successful implementation of a pilot project in subdistrict
councils in ten areas.
The pilot projects included the subdistricts of Duren Sawit in
East Jakarta, Pondok Pinang in South Jakarta, Jelambar Baru and
South Kedoya in West Jakarta, Kampung Bali and Karang Anyar in
Central Jakarta and Pejagalan in North Jakarta.
Jusuf Hamdani, chairman of the United Development Party's
faction at the council, underlined the necessity to eradicate
what he called disgraceful practices among subdistrict officials.
This included charging residents high "administrative fees" for
what should be free or low cost public services.
Apparently, low salaries have forced some subdistrict
officials to collect "administrative fees" from residents when
they visit the subdistrict office to process personal documents,
such as identification cards, letters of reference which are
needed to obtain good conduct reports from the police and other
papers.
The amount of the fees vary from one service to another, but
those who want to get their land deeds processed, for example,
usually have to pay a large amount of money.
Hamdani hoped that the additional funds and the greater level
of control would help the subdistricts eliminate these illegal
practices.
Nawadji, the chairman of the Armed Forces faction at the
council, also hoped that with the approval of the bill the
subdistrict offices will improve their services to the community
so that residents will become more motivated to pay taxes. (arf)