Jakarta 2017 Regional Budget Approved, Allocation for Regional People's Representative Council Soars by 20%

Of the Rp 70.19 trillion 2017 DKI Jakarta budget approved by the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta, Soni Sumarsono, and the DPRD on Monday (December 19th), the Secretariat of the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) received an allocation of Rp 143.6 billion to facilitate the work of regional legislators. This amount represents an increase of approximately 20 percent compared to the 2015 DKI Jakarta Revised Regional Budget (APBD Perubahan), which was Rp 115 billion.

The budget allocated for members of the council's work visits reached Rp 45.5 billion. Meanwhile, work visits for commissions amounted to Rp 12.5 billion. Furthermore, Rp 38.09 billion was allocated for the implementation of the DPRD members' recess in 2017.

From the 2017 DPRD budget allocation, some items were cut or even completely removed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri). Based on the Kemendagri's evaluation of the 2017 DKI Jakarta APBD, the budget for the salaries of council members' drivers was removed due to the lack of supporting legal regulations. Meanwhile, the budget for renovating the fish pond in front of the DPRD building was reduced from Rp 579 million to Rp 300 million.