OFF THE CUFF: Assembly costs spiral

IF THERE’S  going to be any government belt tightening it’s not going to be in the National Assembly where costs are spiraling and investigation of alleged malfeasance  by deputies handing out donations seems to have disappeared from the  radar.

The Assembly budget for fiscal year 2017 increased by $28.2 million according to the latest budget execution report prepared by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. reports La Prensa

In October last year, deputies approved a general budget for the Assembly of $90.6 million. Of that amount, $76.6 million was for operating expenses and $14 million was for investments, which includes “construction and remodeling.”

But  in recent months the budget has been increasing. As of April, according to the report, the modified budget has reached $118.8 million. Of that amount, $94.5 million is for operations and $24.3 million for investments.

A report from the Assembly’a G Directorate of Administration and Finance of reports the increase. In March 2017, the operating budget was $92.6 million.

 The payroll of the Assembly has also registered an increase. According to the Comptroller’s Office, for January of this year the Assembly had 1,792 officials, while for March it increased to 1,999, many of them party hacks and “advisors.”