The National Budget Office (ONAPRES) released figures this week which show that DR$29,580.9 million (around US$1.85 billion) was devoted to salaries in 1999. This represents 63.6% of state income, which amounted to DR$46.494.9 million (around US$2.9 billion). For the same twelve month period, the total of all expenditures for road construction, housing, sports facilities, and schools totaled DR$7,174 million (around US$445 million). The greater part of these expenditures were directed toward roads and bridges in the capital, such as the elevated extensions of John F. Kennedy Avenue and the new bridge over the Ozama River. Other categories of expense were interest payment on the external debt, water and electrical projects, communications infrastructure, transportation and publicity. In an unrelated story carried in today’s Listin Diario, it was reported that the country’s diplomatic corps in overseas posts has not been paid a salary or expense money for the past forty-five days. An unnamed source told Listin Diario that the oversight was probably due to the presidential elections.
