Saturday, November 11, 2006
2007 budget of City readied
By Rimaliza Opiña
THE proposed P1 billion budget of the City Government of Baguio in 2007 might not push through after all because of a shortfall in collections, revealed acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., who added that next year's budget is only slightly higher than last year.
Bautista, upon his assumption as acting mayor, met city department heads to come up with an "aggressive budget" so that development plans could move forward.
In a recent press briefing, however, Bautista said only P755 million was submitted to the City Council for their approval.
The legislative body is scheduled to deliberate on the budget next week.
The estimated income will come from the beginning balance of P80,000; local taxes amounting to P220,450; permits and licenses amounting to P13,950,000; service income amounting to P26,420,000; business income amounting to P55,070,000 and other incomes of P110,323,036 and the internal revenue allotment of P249,291,000.
Expenses, meanwhile, include P314,013,077 for personal services; P325,961,700 for maintenance and other operating expenses; P62,548, 000 for capital outlay, and P52,981,023 for development.
In his budget message, Bautista said despite his vision for a more aggressive budget for 2007, the City could not set higher the levels of the City's resources because of the national and global problems besetting the economy for two years now.
"Though our income has increased, the same is so trifling compared to the proposals of City Hall departments to continually pursue the programs embodied in the City's medium-term development plan," he said.
However, Bautista assured that despite a meager budget, programs and projects for the City would be implemented.
"Let this be a challenge to all of us to exert harder," Bautista added. (With reports from Aileen Refuerzo)
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(November 11, 2006 issue)
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