The Fernández administration will be submitting a Budget Bill for RD$49,000 million to the National Congress. Of the total 65.5% is allotted to current expenditures and 34.5% to capital investments. The budget is RD$5,000 million more than that of 1999. The 2000 budget takes into account a GDP growth rate of 6% and inflation of 6% for next year an estimates an average exchange rate of RD$16.40 to the US dollar. The budget contemplates a 75% wage increase for military and police up to the sergeant rank, and a 25% wage increase for agronomists at the service of the Ministry of Agriculture. The government allotted the budget as follows: Ministry of Finances 19.8% (pays government employee wages), RD$9,841 million Ministry of Education 15.2%, RD$7,554 million Ministry of Public Health 15%, RD$7,455 million Presidency of the Republic 11.9%, RD$5,914 million Ministry of Public Works 8.1%, RD$4,026 million Ministry of Agriculture 7.5%, RD$3,728 million Ministry of Interior and Police 7%, RD$3,479 million Ministry of Armed Forces 6.6%, RD$ 3,280 million
