Damyang-gun Sets Next Year's Main Budget at 488.9 Billion Won... 27.8 Billion Won Decrease Compared to This Year's Budget

On the 15th, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that it has drafted the 2024 main budget plan worth 488.9 billion KRW, prioritizing public livelihood stabilization amid an unprecedented decrease in tax revenue, and submitted it to the county council.

This amount is 27.8 billion KRW less than this year's budget, marking the first decrease in the main budget scale in 24 years since 1999, when the IMF (International Monetary Fund) foreign exchange crisis occurred.

By account type, the general account stands at 480.8 billion KRW, down 27.3 billion KRW from this year.

The special account is 8.1 billion KRW, a decrease of 0.4 billion KRW compared to this year.

The main cause is the reduction in local taxes and local allocation tax due to decreased tax revenue, with local taxes at 37.8 billion KRW, 2.3 billion KRW less than this year, and local allocation tax at 203 billion KRW, 43.4 billion KRW less.

The county drafted the budget with the goal of implementing the pledges of the 8th local government administration by prioritizing policies to stabilize public livelihood, such as strengthening welfare for the vulnerable, and promoting core projects through selection and concentration.

In particular, to secure funding, current expenses were cut by 30%, and event-type projects and projects rated as ‘insufficient’ in performance evaluations among local subsidy projects were boldly reduced by either 100% or 30%.

Also, considering the progress rate, the budget prioritized the completion of ongoing projects rather than new projects.

Furthermore, the proportion of county-funded projects was drastically reduced from 46.06% this year to 22.90%, while the budget for projects responding to national and provincial subsidies was expanded from 53.95% this year to 62.43%.

For large-scale investment projects closely related to residents' lives, such as the city gas supply project, relocation and expansion of the Singye Water Purification Plant and installation of advanced water treatment facilities, modernization of local waterworks, and expansion of the resource recovery center, the issuance of local bonds is being considered with government public funds.

The expenditure budget by sector in the main budget plan was organized in the order of social welfare at 124.2 billion KRW (25.40%), agriculture at 107.3 billion KRW (21.95%), environment at 76.3 billion KRW (15.61%), and culture and tourism at 23.9 billion KRW (4.88%), strengthening welfare for socially vulnerable groups and financially supporting the creation of prosperous rural communities.

Looking at the main budget items, in the general public administration sector, 700 million KRW was allocated for the ‘Eutteum Village Creation’ project, 200 million KRW for the new construction of Geumseong-myeon Office, and in the public order and safety sector, 3.1 billion KRW for the Daechu-Wau and Bongsan Daejeon natural disaster risk area improvement project, 200 million KRW for the Daeseong 2 district steep slope collapse risk area maintenance project, 2.1 billion KRW for the Damyang Scholarship Foundation contribution, and 300 million KRW for the creation of modular housing for rural study programs in the education sector.

In the culture and tourism sector, 1.5 billion KRW was allocated for the construction of the County Citizens’ Sports Park, 1 billion KRW for the Goseo Jeungamcheon Park Golf Course project, 800 million KRW for the International Meditation Center construction project, 700 million KRW for the Bamboo Festival, and 700 million KRW for the Damyang Lake ecological trail construction project.

In the environment sector, 5.2 billion KRW was allocated for the maintenance of the Damyang-eup sewage priority management area, 5.1 billion KRW for the maintenance of the Singye Reservoir for drinking water, 4.6 billion KRW for the installation of the Damyang Lake water intake pipeline, 2.3 billion KRW for the development of eco-friendly alternative water sources, and 2 billion KRW for the maintenance of the recycling landfill facility.

In the social welfare sector, 45.6 billion KRW was allocated for basic pensions, 9.7 billion KRW for basic livelihood benefits, 6.8 billion KRW for senior citizen job social activity support, 5.6 billion KRW for disability activity support benefits, and 3.3 billion KRW for customized senior care services.

In the health sector, 1.2 billion KRW was allocated for the relocation and new construction of the health center, 800 million KRW for the operation of the dementia relief center, 800 million KRW for childbirth support projects, and 700 million KRW for national vaccination projects.

In the agriculture sector, 17.1 billion KRW was allocated for the basic public interest direct payment project, 6.1 billion KRW for the livestock manure joint resource project, 4.9 billion KRW for the Jeonnam-type farmer public interest allowance support, 2.8 billion KRW for organic fertilizer support, 2.4 billion KRW for crop disaster insurance premium support, and 1.8 billion KRW for expanding the production base of facility horticulture and specialty crops projects.

In the industry, small and medium enterprises, and energy sector, 2.8 billion KRW was allocated for the renewable energy convergence support project, 2.1 billion KRW for the Damyang Market reconstruction project, 1.6 billion KRW for the Changpyeong Traditional Market facility modernization and parking environment improvement project, and 700 million KRW for compensation of special discount sales of Damyang Love Gift Certificates.

In the transportation and logistics sector, 1.9 billion KRW was allocated for compensation support for unprofitable routes, 1.5 billion KRW for fuel tax-linked subsidies due to oil price adjustments, and 1.1 billion KRW for bus financial support.

Additionally, in the land and regional development sector, 2.5 billion KRW was allocated for the maintenance of the Damyang-eup pedestrian environment improvement district, 2.2 billion KRW for the Changpyeong-myeon urban regeneration project, 1.7 billion KRW for regional development support projects, 1 billion KRW for the Hanjaegol children’s playground leisure green space project, and 800 million KRW for cadastral readjustment adjustment funds.

A county official stated, “Despite the difficult situation caused by the decrease in tax revenue, we drafted a budget prioritizing public livelihood stabilization by securing funds through high-intensity expenditure structure adjustments,” adding, “We will continue to overcome the financial crisis through strategic budget drafting and management.”

Meanwhile, the 2024 main budget plan submitted to the county council will be finally approved at the plenary session on December 14 after deliberation by the Damyang County Council.