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http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/02/22/large-jumps-in-pas-operating-expenditure-after-2006/ Large jumps in PA’s operating expenditure after 2006 February 22nd, 2014 | Author: Editorial Yesterday (21 Feb), People’s Association (PA) gave a statement attempting to explain why its auditors had given its financial reports an “adverse opinion”. PA’s reply was duly published in ST (‘PA responds to online reports on its accounts’, 21 Feb). In the article, ST also wrote that PA receives more than $300 million from the government each year. It said: “The PA is a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and receives more than $300 million in government grants each year.” As a matter of fact, PA is receiving a whole lot more than $300 million grants from the government these days. TR Emeritus (TRE) went through the PA financial reports [Link] and found that beginning from the year FY2006, the government has been increasingly giving more grants to PA ranging from $257 million in FY2006 (06/07) to $434 million in FY2012 (12/13): And beginning from FY2006 till FY2012, the average increase in government grants given to PA was 9.3% per year: % inc in Govt Grants FY2012 2.1% FY2011 9.3% FY2010 4.9% FY2009 13.8% FY2008 7.2% FY2007 18.3% Average 9.3% This was not the case prior to 2006 when the amounts given were about the same. The smallest increase since FY2006 was in FY2012 at 2.1% after the 2011 General Elections, when PAP’s votes went down to a record low of 60.1%. Government grants to PA need to be increased because PA’s total operating expenditure has been increasing since FY2006. It was more or less flat prior to that time: In the last FY, PA’s total operating expenditure was $483 million. On average, since FY2006, PA’s total operating expenditure has been increasing at 11.1% per year. From PA”s publicly disclosed information, in FY2007, there were 1,139 grassroots organization under its charge. By FY2010, this figure shot up to 1,803 (‘BREAKING: Auditors give adverse ratings to PA’s financial reports‘). Interestingly, the increase in PA’s spending and government grants to PA coincides with the increase in the foreign population in Singapore especially after 2006: (source: DOS) Perhaps PA is trying to help in the integration of the foreign population into Singapore’s society for the betterment of Singapore. What do you think?