Revised city spending redirects resources toward essential services, infrastructure, health, jobs, and community welfare.

Batam is reshaping its proposed 2026 regional budget around public services including flood mitigation, road improvements, healthcare, waste management and employment. Mayor Amsakar Achmad said the revised spending plan would prioritize programs with direct public benefits while reducing ceremonial expenditure.

Infrastructure Spending Rises 20.98%
Batam’s proposed revised 2026 Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget, or APBD, increases capital spending on roads, networks and irrigation by 20.98%, with integrated flood mitigation from upstream to downstream among the priorities. The allocation will also support waste management, traffic safety and improvements to road quality, while the city government says infrastructure projects must still be implemented efficiently and on schedule.

Public Services Take Priority Over Ceremonial Spending
Mayor Amsakar Achmad told the Batam City Council on September 2 that spending would focus on programs providing tangible benefits, particularly basic services, job creation and poverty reduction. The administration plans to cut ceremonial expenditure and reduce personnel spending by 1.46%, while spending on goods and services would rise 14.86% to support public services and Regional Public Service Agencies, or BLUDs.

Healthcare, Education and Social Protection Strengthened
Batam also plans to improve access to and the quality of education while strengthening health services to support Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Social protection and poverty reduction also remain priorities, with the city government emphasizing more effective targeting of public assistance.

City Targets More Revenue Without Simply Raising Taxes
Batam’s regional tax revenue target increases 7.21% under the revised budget. Rather than relying primarily on higher tax rates, the city plans to strengthen tax digitalization, update taxable-object databases and expand revenue collection in a measured way. Potential revenue from outstanding Land and Building Acquisition Duty (BPHTB) and videotron advertising will also be optimized, alongside improvements in services including parking, healthcare and waste management.

Jobs, MSMEs and Disaster Preparedness Also Included
The revised priorities extend beyond physical infrastructure, with Batam also seeking to strengthen MSMEs, the creative economy, industry, trade and workforce skills. Disaster preparedness will also receive attention through logistics, planning and community response training.

Batam’s revised 2026 budget reflects an effort to direct public spending toward problems with visible effects on residents, particularly flooding, infrastructure, healthcare and economic opportunity. Effective implementation will ultimately determine whether the increased allocations translate into measurable improvements. For Indonesia, Batam’s development remains strategically important as a major investment and industrial center, while better infrastructure and public services can also strengthen the city’s economic connections with nearby Singapore.

Sources: GO KEPRI (2026) , Media Center Batam (2026)

Keywords: Batam 2026 Budget, Batam Infrastructure, Batam Flood Control, Batam Healthcare, Batam Public Services, Amsakar Achmad