Mainstreaming Public Interest in the Politics of Local Budget:

The Role of Public Administrators

Oleh:
Tauran, S.Sos, M.Soc.Sc
Universitas Negeri Surabaya

This paper will discuss the potential role of public administrator for mainstreaming public
interest in the politics of budget in local government. This topic is a crucial issue in the
decentralization system in Indonesia that has brought a significant change in the distribution
of national budget. More than half of the national budget has been transferred to local
governments. However, the local government seems has not been effective to create wealth
for society. Some studies on local governments found, there were lack a focus, priorities and
consistency between planning document to budgeting. Some scholars believed the
ineffectiveness of the local budget due to the amount of political intervention in the budgeting
process. It is recognized that planning and budgeting is not merely a technocratic issue. Yet,
public administrator, as vital actor in local budgeting, could take their role back to improve
those situation. They could lead local political actors to promote public interest in the
budgeting process.

Key words: politics of budget, local government