Thai Govt Slashes BMA Subsidy By Up To Bt20bn

[webfact]

Govt slashes BMA subsidy by up to Bt20bn

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's government subsidy for next year has been slashed by more than Bt20 billion, and the agency needs to consult with the Finance Ministry to "discuss future budget allocation policies", city clerk Charoenrat Chootikarn said yesterday.

Speaking after yesterday's meeting of permanent secretaries of key ministries related to the government's 2013 budget, Assawat Abhaiwongse, a senior adviser to the BMA, said the city administration had been allotted Bt14.42 billion of the Bt34.35 billion it had sought in government subsidy.

He said the Pheu Thai-led government was making a grave mistake by slashing the budget and undermining the performance of the Democrat-led BMA for political gains.

"The BMA is in the process of discussing the matter with the Finance Ministry to find solutions in future budget allocation policies," Charoenrat said without elaborating.

However, in response to Assawat's statement, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the government had no reason to slash the budget and that it was rather a work process that resulted in the reduction of the subsidy. "It is the amount earmarked for BMA policies that has been trimmed rather than costs for existing BMA projects," she said, without providing details.

She said Bangkok was the capital, and hence required special attention from the government, adding that she welcomed yesterday's special meeting of permanent secretaries of key ministries, including Charoenrat.

Assawat said the BMA's request for Bt11.97 billion for education had been slashed by Bt6.973 billion, while local administrative bodies under the Interior Ministry had been granted what they had asked for. In fact, he said, the Interior Ministry had been granted a 40-per-cent increase in government subsidy this year alone, while the amount granted to the BMA had been increased by less than 10 per cent every year.

The meeting also discussed the BMA's flood-prevention measures, which Charoenrat said were on schedule, and the BMA's plans to implement four long-term projects to increase efficiency of flood drainage, which may be affected by the slash of the subsidy.

At the meeting, Yingluck said she expected the BMA's flood-related projects, especially dredging of waterways and roadside drains, to be completed by September as scheduled in order to prepare for the peak of the wet season in October.

-- The Nation 2012-07-10

[Thai at Heart]

What is going on here? Did they just slash the government allocated budget for Bangkok by 2/3rd?

Separately, why is this called subsidy? Very confused meaning.

[Moruya]

Thaksinomics. Fund only those areas that support you.

Vindictive

[beano2274]

This is because of the BTS thing that is ongoing.

Tit for Tat

[h90]

This is because of the BTS thing that is ongoing.

Tit for Tat

No it is because he is a successful democrat politician.....so they need to make him unsuccessful.

[GentlemanJim]

Amazing Thailand! This is what happens when you allow people with the education of school children to run a country. Thaksin was always quite open about only giving money to the provinces that voted for him.

[MunterHunter]

Guess its easier to burn the city down if they cut the funding first...

Interesting to see the Minister of Interior gets a whopping 100% increase in their funding, Secret Police forces are expensive to opperate so they need the extra cash.

Screw education in the capital, those Bangkok Elites are waay to educated for PTP's liking, makes it difficult for the PM to stand up in Parliament and debate anything when everyone around her is better educated and able to debate better than her, right?

[Thai at Heart]

Guess its easier to burn the city down if they cut the funding first...

Interesting to see the Minister of Interior gets a whopping 100% increase in their funding, Secret Police forces are expensive to opperate so they need the extra cash.

Screw education in the capital, those Bangkok Elites are waay to educated for PTP's liking, makes it difficult for the PM to stand up in Parliament and debate anything when everyone around her is better educated and able to debate better than her, right?

Weird system though. Why does funding for the schools in Bangkok come under the BMA? Shouldn't it come directly from the education ministry? Doesn't this essentially mean that the BMA can "lobby" for extra funding on a per head basis per pupil than those outside Bangkok, if there is supportive party in the government? Does this work with the mayoral systems elsewhere in the country? If so, it is obvious that political parties are definitely going to shift money around the country according to local support irrespective of them being Dem or PTP.

The BMA should be bothered with providing essential services and amenities like roads, drains and the such. I wonder if this applies to hospital funding also?

[geriatrickid]

Has it occurred to anyone that the BMA has been padding the budget for quite some time?

For all you holier than thou types, has it occurred to you that the BMA has suffered from budget bloat? Perhaps if the BMA starts collecting the monies owed to it by local taxpayers who avoid local taxes and if it avoids sweetheart deals they can compensate.

[GentlemanJim]

Has it occurred to anyone that the BMA has been padding the budget for quite some time?

For all you holier than thou types, has it occurred to you that the BMA has suffered from budget bloat? Perhaps if the BMA starts collecting the monies owed to it by local taxpayers who avoid local taxes and if it avoids sweetheart deals they can compensate.

GK

You never disappoint. Lets play a game of word association.... my go, Black.......... , next one, Chalk..............

[Moruya]

Has it occurred to anyone that the BMA has been padding the budget for quite some time?

For all you holier than thou types, has it occurred to you that the BMA has suffered from budget bloat? Perhaps if the BMA starts collecting the monies owed to it by local taxpayers who avoid local taxes and if it avoids sweetheart deals they can compensate.

83 dollars per resident per year is bloated? I bet they get more in Dhaka!!!

[Phatcharanan]

Poor old GK. Bit early in the day to be drinking ain't it?

[Moruya]

Poor old GK. Bit early in the day to be drinking ain't it?

Indeed - it's the same cost as one of these crappy Chinese tablets - and that was BEFORE it was slashed by 2/3rds!!!

[slapout]

Has it occurred to anyone that the BMA has been padding the budget for quite some time?

For all you holier than thou types, has it occurred to you that the BMA has suffered from budget bloat? Perhaps if the BMA starts collecting the monies owed to it by local taxpayers who avoid local taxes and if it avoids sweetheart deals they can compensate.

The BMA is following the example of the rest of the government agencies. If it is budget bloat that needs correcting, lets go after the entire budget, country wide. This cat fight between BMA and the present government was preordanied from the get go of their campaign and subsquent taking of office. That the piss fight is even allowed to reach this point, is a real indication of the mindset, selfishness, and self serving program of those involved, on all sides.

[planr]

This is because of the BTS thing that is ongoing.

Tit for Tat

No it is because he is a successful democrat politician.....so they need to make him unsuccessful.

Actually, it is a direct response to the BTS issue. And Sukhumbund is a mediocre governor at best, what exactly has he done well during his term?

Has it occurred to anyone that the BMA has been padding the budget for quite some time?

For all you holier than thou types, has it occurred to you that the BMA has suffered from budget bloat? Perhaps if the BMA starts collecting the monies owed to it by local taxpayers who avoid local taxes and if it avoids sweetheart deals they can compensate.

There is government waste at all levels in all countries, it is the nature of the beast. What fees and taxes are the BMA not collecting that could substantially increase its revenue?

[LuckyLew]

Guess they need more money to fund the red villages

This is PTP v Dem all the way

So silly and childish

Kids at play. They are saying, people of Bkk you must vote for us

and support us or we will screw you with less funding

[rubl]

However, in response to Assawat's statement, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the government had no reason to slash the budget and that it was rather a work process that resulted in the reduction of the subsidy. "It is the amount earmarked for BMA policies that has been trimmed rather than costs for existing BMA projects," she said, without providing details.

I'm very happy and truly satisfied with this thorough and detailed explanation from the PM. It really covers all bases and leaves no space for incorrect interpretation. In other words, we're screwed.

BTW any details on the THB 400+ billion on product price pledging and 350++ flood prevention and the 1.4 trillion 'parked' at the BoT?

[h90]

Guess its easier to burn the city down if they cut the funding first...

Interesting to see the Minister of Interior gets a whopping 100% increase in their funding, Secret Police forces are expensive to opperate so they need the extra cash.

Screw education in the capital, those Bangkok Elites are waay to educated for PTP's liking, makes it difficult for the PM to stand up in Parliament and debate anything when everyone around her is better educated and able to debate better than her, right?

Elites go in private schools anyway...Middle class and below need the public schools.

[h90]

This is because of the BTS thing that is ongoing.

Tit for Tat

No it is because he is a successful democrat politician.....so they need to make him unsuccessful.

Actually, it is a direct response to the BTS issue. And Sukhumbund is a mediocre governor at best, what exactly has he done well during his term?

Has it occurred to anyone that the BMA has been padding the budget for quite some time?

For all you holier than thou types, has it occurred to you that the BMA has suffered from budget bloat? Perhaps if the BMA starts collecting the monies owed to it by local taxpayers who avoid local taxes and if it avoids sweetheart deals they can compensate.

There is government waste at all levels in all countries, it is the nature of the beast. What fees and taxes are the BMA not collecting that could substantially increase its revenue?

If the BTS thing is not correct, than sue him. Not cut the money for the city.

What you think a governor of Bangkok can do? Keep the city running, our junk is collected. What did he do wrong? Beside that Thaksin want the BTS for himself.

I recall when he told he build a subway exactly the same places the Skytrain goes, just below it.....

[Moruya]

Wonder how much Chiang Mai will get.....

[MunterHunter]

Wonder how much Chiang Mai will get.....

The 2/3rd's that Bangkok didn't, plus every satang they asked for originally... gotta make sure the (new) capital of Thailand is ready for the Dear Leader's return...

[Payboy]

subsidy for next year has been slashed by more than Bt20 billion

Just need to catch more cigarette butt offenders then.

[Thai at Heart]

Wonder how much Chiang Mai will get.....

http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=3432

. Now with Phua Thai back in power, Chiang Mai is beginning to grow again. The cabinet has recently approved a budget of 100 billion baht for development in Chiang Mai over the next ten years.

[RogueExpat]

Typical Shinawatra/Phua Thai policies.

Couldn't give a flying truck about normal Thai people. They aren't getting a cut from the BMA's budget, so they slash it and move the allocated money to a different area where they are in control.

Pack of self serving, stinking, rotten, dirty thieves.

[h90]

Wonder how much Chiang Mai will get.....

1/3 from the 2/3 they cut in Bangkok. The rest will be a fee....

No to forget that Thaksin want to move the capitol from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

[Nickymaster]

Yingluck, first your people burn down the city and then you cut the city's budget. That is not fair.

BTW, nice shirt. You are starting to look more and more like your brother (from the outside, insight was very clear already).

A government for all colors as long as it is red.

[Moruya]

had GK retreated or gone to check his maths?

[h90]

Yingluck, first your people burn down the city and then you cut the city's budget. That is not fair.

BTW, nice shirt. You are starting to look more and more like your brother (from the outside, insight was very clear already).

A government for all colors as long as it is red.

Well she delivered the water....just the timing was wrong to kill the fire.....

[smutcakes]

had GK retreated or gone to check his maths?

I can understand everyones reaction to this news and is does stink of being highly politicized.

However, do you have any verifiable facts and figures on what and how the BMA's allocation is spent, and as such you can draw conlcuisons as top whether it is well spent or not, or will you just automatically jump to the conclusion that they are spending it wisely an this is all a sinsiter ploy by the PTP government?

I have none of these figures, but given the comments on here, I am sure you must have?

I thought not.

[Reasonableman]

had GK retreated or gone to check his maths?

he left in a huff, or it might be a minute and a huff by now