Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Busway development has become an issue in the 2008 city budget, with the city administration asking for cuts in certain posts to cover the budget needed for busway-related projects.

Secretary of the City Council's Commission C on financial affairs, M. Firmansyah, confirmed Wednesday the council had delayed the submission of its 2008 budget to the Home Affairs Ministry for approval.

"The council is yet to determine which allocation will be cut to cover the budget needed for the development of the busway's three new corridors, as requested by the governor," he said.

"We're trying to finish the discussions as soon as possible, so we can submit the 2008 city budget to the Home Affairs Ministry by the end of this week."

The council had passed the 2008 city budget Jan. 18 and planned to submit it to the ministry, even though the ministry earlier required the council do so no later than Jan. 15.

In a letter dated Jan. 15, Governor Fauzi Bowo asked for a budget review from the council speaker, Ade Surapriyatna.

Deputy Speaker Ilal Ferhard said the request was made because the administration proposed Rp 78.4 billion (US$8.41 million) for busway development this year, lower than an initially discussed Rp 395 billion to build 61 bus stops in three new corridors.

The three new corridors are Corridor VIII linking Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, to Harmoni, Central Jakarta; Corridor IX linking Pinang Ranti, East Jakarta, to Pluit, North Jakarta; and Corridor X linking Cililitan, East Jakarta, to Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.

Ilal said the ministry had sent a warning letter to the council.

"The ministry wants us to submit the 2008 city budget no later than this month," he said.

"If we miss the deadline, the ministry will annul the council's budgetary rights and will force the administration to re-use the 2007 city budget."

Meanwhile, the chairman of Commission B on economic affairs, Aliman A'at, said the governor's request proved an "immature plan" for the busway system.

"The administration needs to spend more than Rp 300 billion this year to finish construction of the busway's three new corridors, but why did it propose only Rp 78 billion?" he said.

"That number is insufficient for the construction of (bus stops in) even a single corridor."

Both Aliman and Firmansyah said the council would find a solution despite rumors saying the council was mulling over the removal of money already allocated for either educational operation aid for private elementary and junior high schools or rehabilitation of municipality office buildings.

They said they preferred keeping Rp 157.7 billion in educational operation aid in the 2008 city budget.

Governor Fauzi Bowo said Wednesday at City Hall that he did not know of the rumors and would keep the educational operation aid in the budget.