• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod will start deliberations on the P5.370 billion proposed Bacolod budget for next year, after the Undas observance.
Approved by the SP on first reading Oct. 21, the proposed Local Expenditure Program (LEP) for next year is more than P600 million higher than this year’s P4.7 billion appropriation.
Fund sources include P2.46 billion in total local sources, including taxes and non-tax revenues; and P2.9 billion in external sources, including the P2.8 billion National Tax Allotment (NTA) share of the highly-urbanized city.
Of the proposed allotment, P1.2 billion will go to personal services, from the current P1.14 billion allocation. Bulk of the budget will be for the salaries and wages of regular employees, at P730.43 million, from the current P650.47 million.
Around P27 million has been proposed for the salaries of casual/contractual employees, from the current P26.9 million; and P90.9 million as retirement and life insurance premiums, from this year’s P81.3 million.
Around P2.4 billion has been proposed for maintenance and operating expenses, up from this year’s P2 billion.
Proposed special purpose appropriation reached P1.32 billion, from the current P1.17 billion; while allocation for property, plant and equipment stood at P146.9 million, from this year’s P141 million. | CGC
