TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta provincial administration was designing the 2020 Regional Budget Draft (RAPBD) while awaiting the completion of discussions on the budget ceiling in the Legislative Council (DPRD).

“We are moving forward, we cannot wait. The deadline is near,” said the city secretary Saefullah in Monas, Sunday, November 10.

Saefullah explained that his side would correct and review budgets in RAPBD, including odd budgets found during discussions.

The budget draft, he added, would be submitted back to the DPRD for further discussions, which would be held in the commission level to the budget board to be ratified as RAPBD in the plenary meeting.

The city secretary claimed the exact number of next year’s RAPBD had not been concluded yet following findings on several unreasonably high budgets. However, the number could either be raised or dropped from the proposed figure at Rp89 trillion.

“The number depends on the joint discussion with executives and legislatures later, let’s just wait,” said Saefullah.

He expressed optimism that the discussion on 2020 RAPBD would meet for completion before the set deadlines by the Home Affairs Ministry. After then, the ministry would review the budget draft.

“Jakarta budget draft will be returned again by the ministry, and we will be given time to discuss it more with DPRD, then we will submit the final to DPRD,” Saefullah said.

TAUFIQ SIDDIQ