The proposed Bt39.5-billion budget would be Bt4-billion higher than this year. And the biggest chunk - Bt4.1 billion - would go to the BMA's Public Cleaning Department, which received about Bt1 billion less in fiscal 2006, the source said.

The Department of Drainage and Sewerage would get Bt3.6 billion - up from this fiscal year's Bt3.4 billion. But the Department of Public Works would get only Bt3.6 billion, a much lower amount compared to the 2006 fiscal year's Bt5.36 billion, thus it would not be able to initiate big construction projects, the source said. The proposed budget indicated Apirak was focused on elevating city residents' quality of life and the environment, while only allowing ongoing major construction projects to proceed, such as extensions to the Skytrain, the source said.

Lat Krabang district office would be allocated the highest budget, at Bt320.7 million, while Samphanthawong district would get the smallest, or Bt119 million. But both sums are up from the previous year.

The Democrat Party, which has 35 seats out of the council's 57 seats, set up a special committee made up of 19 Democrats, 11 Thai Rak Thai members and 15 city officials to consider the proposal in detail before submitting it to the Bangkok Metropolitan Council to discuss and vote on.

The process will take 45 days and should end in January next year.