A Senate committee has urged the government to give local authorities more power to collect tax revenues as budget allocations to local agencies under the budget bill for fiscal 2023 are low.
The Senate on Tuesday held a meeting to deliberate the 3.185-trillion-baht budget bill, which was approved by the House of Representatives in the third and final reading on Aug 23.
Under the constitution, the Upper House is required to consider and endorse the bill within 20 days of receiving it on Aug 24.
Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith explained the bill to the Senate on behalf of the cabinet, saying budget allocations are in line with the government's national development strategy and reform plans as well as the constitution and related laws.
The government is ready to listen to feedback from the Senate and improve the way the budget is allocated accordingly, Mr Arkhom said.
Senator Chart-udom Titthasiri, chairman of the Senate committee scrutinising the budget bill, noted that allocations to the provinces under the bill have fallen.
Gen Chart-udom said local revenue collections are expected to decline by more than 10-20% so the government should give local government organisations, particularly those which have limited revenues and reserve funds, more power to collect tax revenues.
Spending on state personnel management has increased every year, so the government should review state agencies' human resource planning to respond to changing circumstances and make more use of digital technologies to boost efficiency, he added.
Senator Pattamapong Prathompat, who also sits on the committee, said the implementation of several projects proposed by state agencies are not in line with the national strategy or cabinet resolutions.
He suggested a central agency be set up to oversee and steer the implementation of related projects.
Some agencies have huge amounts of unspent funds while their accumulated off-budget funds are as high as 2.8 trillion baht, the senator said.
''The Budget Bureau must present the information regarding these off-budget funds for consideration by parliament to ensure proper financial discipline,'' Gen Pattamapong said.
