Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will investigate the indication of doubled budgets or duplication in the 2014 City Budget (APBD). Until now, at least 18,000 budget items worth Rp 1.8 trillion are allegedly double. If found again, the budget will be instantly locked, thus it cannot be used.

We are wasteful, buy things that are not important. That’s what we locked. The locked budgets will be used in City Budget Amendment (APBDP) with different activities that are more useful, real, and concrete. This is the function of e-budgeting

“We’re investigating it (budget duplication) in every department. Jakarta Education Department has been investigated, other departments have not,” stated Jokowi at City Hall, Tuesday (4/22).

According to Jokowi, the budget duplication found happened not because of the system switched from Regional Finance Management Information System (SIPKD) system to e-budgeting system, but because of the regional working units (SKPD) are wasteful in using the budget.

“We are wasteful, buy things that are not important. That’s what we locked. The locked budgets will be used in City Budget Amendment (APBDP) with different activities that are more useful, real, and concrete. This is the function of e-budgeting,” he said.

For information, two SKPDs, namely Jakarta Education Department and Jakarta Public Works Department, found budget duplication in their activities. Jakarta Education Department corrects doubled budgets worth Rp 700 millon from the allocated budget, while in Jakarta Public Works Department at least 10 budget items are locked due to double.

Head of Jakarta Finance Management Board (BPKD), Endang Widjajanti, admitted there is duplication of budgets worth Rp 1.8 trillion from total budget of Rp 72 trillion. Such a thing usually happened in similar working unit, such as Spatial Department with Building Control (P2B) Department.

“This matter (budget duplication) makes us cannot publish the 2014 APBD yet to the public and mention the total of doubled budgets,” she uttered.

Widjajanti explained that city’s budgeting system is currently in a transition period from SIPKD system to e-budgeting system, which needs quite a long adjustment and verification. The verification itself is to make sure there is no same budget in other departments. It takes time because the process starts from budget in urban village offices to departments and boards until city secretary.