Laos ministry issues regulation for village financial administration
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The Ministry of Finance has ruled that village authorities have no right to impose their budget plans independently as they are part of the state administration and subject to implementing the budget law.
Minister of Finance, Mr Somdy Douangdy signed the ministerial decision on village finances on November 11, making it clear that village authorities are required to submit their income and expenditure plans for the district authorities to consider and approve.
The policy intervention took place amid widespread public debate over the rights of village authorities to collect their service fees from residents and the spending of this money. In addition, various villages impose their service fees differently with many residents questioning whether higher authorities have authorised them.
Ekaphone Phouthonesy
