PRT TIKRIT: SALAH AD DIN APPROVES 2008 PROVINCIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003598

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: ECON EFIN PGOV KCRS IZ
SUBJECT: PRT TIKRIT: SALAH AD DIN APPROVES 2008 PROVINCIAL
BUDGET

Classified By: PRT Team Leader Steven Buckler 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) This is a PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din cable.


2. (U) SUMMARY. With an enthusiasm and pride not normally
seen at its meetings, the Salah ad din Provincial Council
(PC) approved its 2008 budget and toasted this achievement as
a group after its meeting. END SUMMARY.

--------------
PRT Pleads for Transparency
--------------


3. (C) On September 14 a pair of influential PC members asked
PRToff whether any other provinces had submitted their 2008
budget and proceeded to tell PRToff proudly that Salah ad
Din,s budget was ready. COMMENT: This was not welcome
news. The PRT had received assurances that all local
councils would have input into the budget process and this
had not happened. END COMMENT


4. (C) The PRT had stressed for months that in order to be
seen as legitimately representing all of the people of Salah
ad Din, input from local councils/officials was essential
prior to a vote. Heeding PRT advice, provincial officials
distributed the project list at an October 2 meeting. This
gave local officials an opportunity for review and comment.
The Provincial Council approved the budget on October 10.

--------------
Winners and Losers
--------------


5. (C) A PRT review of the budget identifies clear winners
and losers at the district level. The cities of Tikrit and
Tuz were clear winners. Tikrit, with 15 percent of the
population received 33.8 percent of the budget allocation.
Tuz, with 13 percent of the population received 27.66 percent
of the allocation. The biggest losers were Balad and
Samarra. Balad with 18.7 percent of the provincial
population received 8.5 percent of the budget allocation.
Samarra with 17 percent of the population received 6.6 of the
budget allocation. Allocations for the other districts in
Salah ad Din were as follows: Al-Daur ) 7.2 percent of the
population, 4.38 percent of the budget; Al Shirqat - 12.3
percent of the population, 7.4 percent of the budget;
Al-Dujayl ) 7.2 percent of the population, 5.1 percent of
the budget; and Baiji ) 9 percent of the population, 6.6
percent of the budget.


6. (C) That Tikrit and Tuz received widely disproportionate
shares of the budget is no surprise. The Tuz bloc accounts
for 15 of 41 Provincial Council members; Tikrit 11 of 41. PC
members from Tikrit defend the imbalance on the grounds that
Tikrit provides many services that are utilized by the entire
province, such as Tikrit University and a pair of hospitals
and as such they should receive more funding. COMMENT: The
lack of numerical balance on the council is the result of the
Sunni boycott of elections and this imbalance is the key
roadblock to development of a truly democratic and
representative PC. END COMMENT


7. (C) The allocation for Balad was particularly low. Balad
has an engaged and effective mayor and the security situation
is now permissive enough to allow project execution. The PRT
knows that Balad actively worked on submitting projects and
that those projects were well thought out and prioritized.
The mayor indicated that while he understood and was
comfortable with the process, he was disappointed with the
results. He noted that one reason for the smaller
allocations was the inability of the local councils and the
district council to work together in designing their budget
request. COMMENT: PRT has offered assistance in helping to
develop a common development strategy for the district, but
the Mayor has said that this is something he has under
control and declined our assistance. END COMMENT.


7. (C) COMMENT: While not perfect, the province has made
great strides in its budget development process. This is the
first time where districts have had at least some input into
the process. While the PRT needed to push for more local
input once released, PC members clearly understand the budget
process must be a collaborative between themselves and the
districts. While many districts were not happy with their
allocations, the budget development process saw district
officials visiting Tikrit without PRT involvement or
prodding. This has set the stage for local level
participation in the execution phase and PRT is beginning to
hear more frequently that local officials are visiting with
Provincial officials more frequently to push for movement on
stalled projects in their districts. END COMMENT.


BAGHDAD 00003598 002 OF 002



8. (U) For additional reporting from PRT Tikrit, Salah ad
Din, please see our SIPRNET reporting blog:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Tikrit.
BUTENIS