The Listin Diario main headline today points out that the Banco de Reservas, the government commercial bank that handles most government banking transactions, has had to assist the government in January and February with RD$1,500 million. The newspaper reports that the Banco de Reservas has had to finance the deficit that is attributed to an increase in public expenditures, primarily to meet an increase in the government payroll. Non official figures indicate that the government had projected to spend 66% of the budget for current expenditures, but has had to disburse 72%, primarily to meet payroll expenditures at three major government institutions. The newspaper mentions the situation had been under control during the first five months of the Mejia administration, from August to December.
