The Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) reported that the realization of funds for the 2024 Regional Elections (Pilkada) reached Rp34.57 trillion as of August 2024.
This realization has reached 92% of the initial budget of Rp37.52 trillion. There is still an 8% funding obligation to be fulfilled.
Based on the allocation of the budget for the election organizers, the disbursement of funds for the 2024 Pilkada to the General Election Commission (KPU) amounted to Rp26.85 trillion as of August 2024.
This figure is equivalent to 93% of the total budget of Rp28.76 trillion.
Meanwhile, the disbursement of funds to the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) reached Rp7.72 trillion. This figure covers 88% of the total budget allocated to the agency, which is Rp8.76 trillion.
All funds were disbursed through the Regional Grant Agreement (NPHD) scheme.
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani explained the funding process. Funds from regional governments within the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) are transferred to the Kemenkeu. The Kemenkeu will then deposit these funds to the organizers according to their respective positions, namely the KPU or Bawaslu.
"It's as if the regions are giving to the central government, but it's for their respective regional elections," said Sri Mulyani in the *APBN Kita* press conference on Tuesday (August 13, 2024).
The realization target is still short, so it is hoped that it can be completed before the elections take place in November 2024.
Sri Mulyani added that regions that have not fulfilled their obligations will have their funds directly deducted or intercepted by the central government. This can be in the form of deductions from the regional transfer funds (TKD) within the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN).
However, another preferred scheme is the use of treasury funds. Sri Mulyani explained that several regions with substantial cash reserves have paid using deposit facilities.
"This means we don't pay the regions in cash, but they have deposits in our treasury, which they can use. That's what's being used for Pilkada payments," said Sri Mulyani.
(Also read: State Revenue Falls, APBN Deficit Reaches Rp93.4 Trillion in July 2024)