Navigating Fiscal Austerity: Budget Efficiency and Public Service Delivery in Subnational Governance

Gilang Agiel Dananjaya; Imam Syahid; Muhammad Jamal; Hashfi Rafdi

doi:10.63924/jsid.v8i1.372

Authors

Gilang Agiel Dananjaya Universitas Mulawarman
Imam Syahid Universitas Mulawarman
Muhammad Jamal Universitas Mulawarman
Hashfi Rafdi Universitas Mulawarman

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63924/jsid.v8i1.372

Keywords:

Fiscal Austerity, Budget Efficiency, Policy Implementation, Organizational Adaptation, Public Service Delivery

Abstract

Indonesia's 2025 fiscal austerity policy required subnational administrations to restrain expenditure while maintaining essential public services. This study examined how the Government Administration and Public Service Program in Gunung Tabur Subdistrict, Berau Regency, implemented spending-efficiency directives and identified enabling and constraining conditions. Using a descriptive qualitative design, the study analyzed retrospective interviews conducted in June 2026, observations, and administrative documents through Van Meter and Van Horn's six implementation variables, with SWOT used as a supplementary synthesis. The allocation for one public-service sub activity declined from IDR 29,995,759 to IDR 26,495,759 (11.67%). Officials reported prioritizing activities, consolidating village visits, coordinating units across, and using existing facilities. Aggregate Public Satisfaction Survey scores for January–June were 3.52 in both 2024 and 2025 and 3.53 in 2026. These figures provided limited context for reported service continuity but did not establish unchanged service quality or improved cost efficiency. The findings highlighted organizational adaptation as a reported mechanism through which a subdistrict translated fiscal directives into administrative routines without formal restructuring. Given the retrospective evidence and limited service-output and cost data, the study could not establish causal effects on service performance. It underscored the need to monitor realized expenditure, service outputs, and accessibility alongside budget adjustments.

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