Bekasi Ready to Slash Budget for Official Trips and Meetings
17 November 2014 14:38 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Bekasi Administration has pledged to cut trip budget for officials and reduce the frequency of out-of-town meetings for budget efficiency reasons.
“Meetings will be held in the city to boost City’s own revenue (PAD),” Bekasi mayor Rahmat Effendi said on Sunday, November 16, 2014.
Data from Bekasi Financial and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD) revealed that the city spends Rp7.2 billion (US$600,000) to finance official trips for Bekasi work units and 50 legislators.
“[The expense] can be reduced by 10 percent,” Rahmat said.
BPKAD head Yayan Yuliana said his agency is currently discussing the matter with Council’s Budgetary Board. However, Yayan said, the last year’s 10-percent budget cut has yet been approved by the board.
Bekasi Legislative Council speaker Tumai explained the regional budget draft for 2015 had been made as efficient as possible. According to Tumai, more budget cut for official trips would be impossible, since out-of-town meetings are parts of the job description.
ADI WARSONO
