The Department of Taxes (DGII) announced it has collected RD$28.29 billion from January to April, up from the budgeted RD$24.52 billion. Revenues in April were up 60% compared to revenues in the same month in 2004. El Caribe newspaper points out that the additional revenues should be taken into account when the government drafts the proposed fiscal reform bills in order to compensate for reduced customs revenues once the free trade agreement with the United States goes in effect.