El Caribe newspaper points out that public investment has dropped 25% in the first two months of the year compared with the same period last year. The newspaper also says that in January 2001 there were 20% more government employees than in July 2000. Last year, capital expenditures were 24% of the budget. During the first two months of 2001, this declined to 17%. This means that current expenditures are 83% of the total budget expenditures, of which the payroll is the biggest part. El Caribe says the government payroll total in February 1999 was RD$900 million, in February 2000 RD$1,156 million and in February 2001 RD$1,1474 million without any significant pay increases. In an editorial, the newspaper says: "To increase taxes, as occurred a few months ago, primarily to be able to have more money to increase the government’s payroll is not justified. In these times of international uncertainty and high petroleum prices, the norm needs to be austerity." The newspaper says the practice of hiring unproductive employees to gain political favor lacks good judgement. It says that to sacrifice public investment in favor of increased employment could backfire for the government in the 2002 congressional and municipal elections.
