The Dominican government spent 41% of its income on wages last month, according to sources in Onapres, the national budget office. An amount of RD$1.934 billion of a total income of RD$4.758 billion went to pay the salaries of government workers. This figure, however, was RD$83 million less than the previous month’s expenditure. The reasons for the reduction, according to reporter Idonelia Perez Blanco, are simple: The IMF requires the Dominican government to keep salaries and personnel expenses below RD$24 billion for the year, and that includes the Christmas “bonus” that is required by law.