Pontianak Mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono says a Rp235 billion reduction in central government transfers has weakened Pontianak’s ability to fund public services and infrastructure. He asked Indonesia’s House Budget Committee (Banggar DPR RI) to restore the allocation. In addition, he sought support for PPPK salaries through the national budget. He also urged reconsideration of regulations restricting local fiscal capacity in 2027.

PONTIANAK, thekabarnews.com—Pontianak Mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono has urged Indonesia’s central government and Parliament to restore Rp235 billion in regional transfer funding. He warned that the reduction has placed substantial pressure on the Pontianak capital’s public services and development programs.

Edi raised the issue during a coordination meeting with Indonesia’s House Budget Committee (Banggar DPR RI) at Balai Petitih in the West Kalimantan Governor’s Office. The meeting took place on Wednesday, July 15.

“The central government cut Pontianak City’s allocation by Rp235 billion. This seriously disrupts our fiscal capacity to provide optimal services to the public,” Edi said, according to the Pontianak official administration.

Pontianak serves as West Kalimantan’s administrative, commercial and service center. The municipal government estimates that the city has nearly 700,000 residents within an area of approximately 118 square kilometers. Therefore, this increases demand for roads, health care, education and other essential services.

The Rp235 billion reduction equals roughly 11 percent of Pontianak’s approved 2026 regional budget. Pontianak’s 2026 APBD was set at Rp2.092 trillion. This comprises Rp2.062 trillion in revenue and Rp2.073 trillion in expenditure, according to the city’s official legal information portal.

Edi said urbanization, infrastructure demand and heavier container traffic associated with growing port activity had accelerated damage to city roads.

He also said Pontianak had received no Special Allocation Funds (DAK) for infrastructure. This was despite needing further investment in roads, schools and health facilities.

The mayor asked Banggar DPR RI to support the restoration of regional transfers to their previous level. He also proposed that the national budget help finance government employees hired under the PPPK contract scheme. In other words, he does not want the entire salary burden to fall on regional budgets.

“We hope PPPK funding will not all be deducted from the regional budget but will also come from the national budget,” Edi said.

His request reflects a wider regional concern. An official DPR report said Indonesia’s fiscal relations law requires regional governments to reduce personnel expenditure to no more than 30 percent of their budgets beginning in 2027. Lawmakers have acknowledged that PPPK recruitment could make that target difficult for some administrations.

Edi also requested a review of regulations that limit municipal revenue. The review includes the lower maximum parking-tax rate and the elimination of boarding-house fees.

Banggar DPR RI Deputy Chairman Syarief Abdullah Alkadrie made no immediate funding commitment. He said the committee would use the concerns raised by West Kalimantan administrations as input for drafting the 2027 state budget.

“Today’s visit aims to hear directly about regional conditions and problems. This input will enrich our work in preparing the 2027 state budget,” Syarif said.

The Banggar DPR RI has proposed strengthening 2027 transfers and calculating allocations more closely against regional service needs.

Syarif emphasized that every proposal would remain subject to national fiscal capacity and the central government’s budget-efficiency policy.