The government as it is intended to work at the provinces and below.
Each province has a governor which is appointed by the president. The governor works directly for the president and within his/her province is in charge of all;
Public health departments
Public education departments
Public police departments
Public hospitals
Public civil registry departments
Each city has an Ayuntamiento which is tasked with the running of the city. It derives its monies from the state government by means of the Camara de Cuentas who give out monthly payments to the Dominican Municipal League (LMD) which then take their 5% and distribute the rest to each Ayuntamiento,
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=19926
There is presently a bill before congress trying to lower the 5% to a 0.8%. Of the monies presently given to the Ayuntameientos the law states that 25% be used for personnel expenses (fixed or seasonal), 35% for municipal services and operational expenses, and 40% for infrastructure expenditures. They are trying to change that to 25%, 25% and 50% respectively. Likewise, there is a movement to establish an access to the monetary workings of the municipalities by the public. Some Ayuntamientos, such as Higuey, publish their records on a board in front of their office each month and there are others such as here in El Seibo that are completely secret and unattainable. At the same time there are a number of people trying to do away with the LDM as it is an obsolete entity to an anachronism of the Trujillo era.
It is the Ayuntamiento that is responsible for the roads, trash and other aspects of city life. It is made up of the Sindico, Vice-Sindico, President of the Ayuntamiento and a number of Regidores. All these positions are obtained through local elections.The position of the Vice is mute as he has no vote or true function. The Sindico is the head but must have approval of the president of the Ayuntamiento and the Regidores to take any action.
Law1740-86 governs how the Ayuntamientos will function. As stated above 25% of their funds are to be spent for personnel expenses (wages) both fixed and seasonal. This is to include the 13th paycheck given out in December of each year. As this expense is supposed to be figured in then the reality of the situation is that no loans should be taken out for the payment of said 13th paycheck.
I hope this helps you in understanding how the system works and who has control of what.
Rick