TUBAN, JurnalPost.com — Public policy education does not always take place within the confines of a classroom. For students of the Public Administration program at the Universitas Pembangunan Nasional (UPN) “Veteran” East Java, attending a plenary session of the Tuban Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) provided a unique opportunity to witness firsthand how regional budgets are debated and held to account.
The students gained this experience while observing the Tuban DPRD plenary session on Wednesday (21/10/2026), which discussed the Draft Regional Budget (R-APBD) for the 2027 fiscal year.
The meeting, which began at 09.00 WIB, featured a report from the Budget Committee (Banggar), general views from six DPRD factions, and the local government's response to various development issues.
The six factions presenting their views included the Golkar Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Gerindra Party, the Democrat Amanat Persatuan (DAP) coalition, and the NasDem Party.
For the students, the agenda illustrated that budget formulation is not merely about determining revenue and expenditure figures. It involves political processes, considerations of public needs, and oversight of regional financial management.
Budget Debates and Regional Financial Challenges
The discussion began with the Budget Committee report delivered by Munir. In his report, the committee stated that the Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) for the Tuban APBD for the year 2027 had met the requirements to proceed to the next stage of deliberation.
Based on the initial draft document, Tuban's regional revenue for 2027 is projected at approximately Rp2.648 trillion, while regional expenditure is set to reach Rp2.923 trillion.
This situation highlights the challenges in maintaining fiscal balance, particularly as central government transfer funds undergo adjustments.
The Golkar Party faction, represented by Angga Nur Fauzi, S.H., praised the progress in poverty reduction efforts in Tuban Regency. However, Golkar also emphasized the importance of increasing locally-generated revenue (PAD) without placing additional burdens on the public.
Furthermore, Golkar urged for the efficiency of less productive expenditures and the acceleration of budget absorption to ensure that program implementation is not concentrated toward the end of the year.
"The local government needs to optimize legitimate PAD potential without burdening the community," said Angga, as reported by Radar Tuban.
The local government stated that evaluations of the realization and absorption of budgets for each regional agency are conducted periodically.
PKB Highlights Clean Water, Agriculture, and Public Service Quality
The PKB faction, represented by Sumartono, presented several notes covering revenue management, infrastructure development, and the quality of public services.
One of its primary concerns is increasing PAD through mapping revenue potential and preventing tax leakage.
Responding to this, the local government explained several measures, including comparative analysis of potential versus realized taxes, the use of electronic transaction recording systems or tapping boxes, and the strengthening of collaborative oversight.
PKB also questioned the budget allocation of approximately Rp1.6 billion for clean water provision through the Cipta Karya sector. This budget is considered to require attention given that some residents still face issues with water availability.
The issue of the Kali Avour Kuwu flooding, which affects agricultural land, was also highlighted. The government stated that normalization along 3.7 kilometers had been carried out through the 2026 APBD.
In the agriculture and fisheries sector, PKB requested increased support for farmers, fishermen, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The government explained that there is assistance for agricultural and fisheries equipment, including support for 61 pump irrigation units through the 2026 APBN.
Additionally, PKB highlighted the personnel expenditure of approximately Rp1.095 trillion, urging that such a large allocation be followed by improvements in the quality of public services.
The equitable distribution of educational facilities, the prevention of bullying in schools, the improvement of health services, and the filling of government positions currently held by acting officials were also concerns raised by the faction.
PDI-P and Gerindra Emphasize Expenditure Effectiveness
The PDI-P faction, represented by Eny Kristyawatie, S.E., M.AP., highlighted the fiscal risks resulting from reduced central government transfer funds.
The faction requested that the local government prepare strategies capable of maintaining the sustainability of public services amidst budget limitations.
Environmental issues also received attention, particularly regarding C-type mining activities and reclamation implementation. The budget allocation of Rp852,424,200 for pollution prevention was deemed in need of evaluation based on environmental oversight requirements.
The government explained that oversight of licensed mining falls under the authority of the East Java Provincial Government in accordance with applicable regulations.
Meanwhile, the Gerindra faction, represented by Muhammad Zaki Sulton, requested that regional spending be prioritized for programs whose benefits can be felt directly by the community.
Gerindra emphasized infrastructure development based on the level of need, the accuracy of social assistance targeting, and the strengthening of program implementation oversight.
The government stated that it uses the National Social and Economic Single Data (DTSEN) as the basis for distributing social assistance.
In the health sector, the government also announced plans to increase the number of inpatient community health centers (Puskesmas) from eight to 23 units in 2027.
Tourism and Reduced Social Assistance Also Become Points of Concern
The Democrat Amanat Persatuan faction, represented by Hj. Sulasih Noer Mahfudloh, S.E., S.Pd., encouraged the development of Tuban Regency as a tourist destination.
The DAP faction proposed that 2027 be used as momentum to strengthen tourism promotion and visits, which are expected to contribute to PAD.
In addition to tourism, DAP requested that the government strengthen measures to handle drought through the provision of sustainable clean water infrastructure.
The government explained that these efforts are being carried out through the construction of pipeline networks, the drilling of water sources, and the distribution of clean water during the dry season.
On the other hand, the NasDem faction, represented by Muhammad Eka Suheri, S.I.Kom., questioned the reduction in the social assistance budget, which reached 92.86 percent.
The social assistance allocation, which was previously around Rp5.17 billion in the 2026 APBD, fell to Rp369 million in the 2027 draft APBD.
The government explained that this adjustment was made to avoid overlapping regional assistance with central government assistance programs.
Nevertheless, the government stated that efforts to protect vulnerable communities continue to be carried out through various programs, including meal services.
Plenary Session Provides Direct Learning for Students
For the Public Administration students of UPN “Veteran” East Java, the series of discussions provided an understanding of the relationship between budgeting theory and the practice of government administration.
Various materials previously studied in lectures, ranging from budget functions and legislative oversight to government accountability, could be observed through the deliberation process at the DPRD.
The students also gained insight into how each faction has different perspectives and priorities when evaluating a policy.
These differences are part of the democratic mechanism to ensure that the use of regional budgets considers the interests of the wider community.
After the series of discussions, the DPRD and the Tuban Regency Government agreed on the Draft Regional Regulation for the APBD for the 2027 fiscal year at the end of October 2026. The draft will subsequently enter the evaluation stage by the provincial government before finalization in accordance with regulations.
The experience of attending the plenary session serves as a reminder that students are not only expected to understand public administration concepts academically but also need to have a concern for the policy-making process.
Through direct learning at the legislative institution, students are expected to become more critical in understanding budget policies, observing the use of public funds, and assessing their impact on community welfare.
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