El Siglo newspaper reports that the central government has increased its spending by RD$7.1 billion in its first 11 months in power. According to the Budget Office, government spending reached RD$50.7 billion during the first 11 months. This is up from RD$43.6 billion for the August 1999-June 2000 period. The government collected RD$50.3 billion during the period, up from RD$43.3 billion for the previous period. Current expenditures were 75% of total collections, up from 71% in the previous period.
