The general director of the National Budget, Luis Reyes Santos says that the government plans a freeze on the total government payroll to the current 2012 levels, but does not plan to reduce the number of government employees. Procurement contracts, nevertheless, will be reduced to 2011 levels and capital investment will be reduced from 6% to 4% of GDP, or RD$99 billion from RD$138 billion. The government expects 2013 to close with a deficit of RD$139 billion.
He says that this year the government will apply a ban on the purchase of new vehicles, Christmas gifts, office decoration and other expenses by government entities to generate savings for RD$6.9 billion.
As reported in Listin Diario, the 2013 budget should be around RD$445 billion.