Having A Debt Of IDR 348 Billion To SMI, The Penajam Paser Utara Regency Government LEFT IDR 56.6 Billion From The 2023 APBD To Pay In Installments

One of the areas in North Penajam Paser Regency. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

PENAJAM - The Government of North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan allocated approximately Rp56.6 billion in the 2023 Regional Budget or APBD for payment of debt installments to PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI). "To pay the loan installments of PT SMI prepared in the 2023 APBD of around Rp56.6 billion," said North Penajam Paser Regent Hamdam Pongrewa, quoted by Antara, Monday, November 28. The North Penajam Paser Regency Government still has to pay debt installments to pay off loans of around Rp348 billion to PT SMI which was used to complete a number of development projects. The loan fund to finance seven North Penajam Paser Regency Government projects funded through the multi-year scheme (multiyears) was approved by PT SMI in 2017. Loan refunds to PT SMI were made within eight years, the North Penajam Paser Regency Government began paying installments starting 2019. Hamdam also ensured that the priority program of the district government would resume in 2023, because there would be additional revenue next year. Village funds sourced from the district APBD will also increase with the addition of revenue, because village funds must be allocated about 10 percent of total regional revenue. "The financial condition of district governments in 2023 starts normal after in 2021 a natural deficit problem," he said.

The 2023 APBD for North Penajam Paser Regency is set at around Rp1.9 trillion or an increase of around Rp730 billion compared to the 2022 APBD which is only around Rp1.17 trillion. The KUA-PPAS (budget general policy and budget ceiling priority) for the 2023 APBD is only around Rp1.18 trillion, explained the Chairman of the North Penajam Paser Regency DPRD, Syahruddin M Noor, in the midst of discussion there was an additional source of income that made the 2023 APBD increase to approximately Rp1.9 trillion. The additional amount of the 2023 APBD, because there was an increase in revenue from central government revenue-sharing funds (DBH), as well as revenues for tax and Bankeu (financial assistance) of the East Kalimantan Provincial Government.