The 2014 National Budget bill includes approvals for contracting financing for RD$189 billion in 2014. This is about 7% of the GDP. 81% (RD$155.4 billion) of the financing would come from external sources, and 19% (RD$33.85 billion) from local sources. The government has estimated a fiscal deficit of RD$77.7 billion, or 2.8% of GDP for next year. The government authorizes the payment of RD$108.3 billion in past debt.
Dominican Republic Industries Association (AIRD-RD) president Ligia Bonetti expressed her concern about the impact of the public debt on the country’s finances. She estimated the public debt would increase RD$150 billion, reaching 41.5% of GDP in 2014, or 30% of the overall budget. She criticized the government for its plan to continue the practice of recent years of financing current expenditures with debt. She criticized the government for spending beyond its means, describing this as a “dangerous practice.”