Jung-gu Requests Reconsideration to Jung-gu Council on the 28th under Article 121 of the Local Autonomy Act... Five Cut Projects Including 'Legally Obligated Expense Burdens' with a Reduction Amount of 4.43 Billion KRW... Prompt Securing of Essential Budget to Ensure Stable District Administration
Jung-gu District Office in Seoul (District Mayor Kim Gil-seong) requested a reconsideration on the 2024 budget bill, which was amended and approved by the Jung-gu Council, on the 28th.
This concerns the 4.43 billion KRW, including legally mandated expenses such as the consignment project costs of the Facilities Corporation and the Cultural Foundation, which were subject to a “blanket cut” despite an increase in current expenses linked to the inflation rate.
This reconsideration request is pursuant to Article 121, Paragraph 2 of the Local Autonomy Act (Request for Reconsideration of Resolutions That Cannot Be Executed in Budget). A local government head may request reconsideration when the local council passes a resolution to reduce expenses that the local government is legally obligated to bear.
The purpose of this reconsideration request is to promptly secure the essential budget for certain projects whose minimum functions have become difficult to maintain due to unfair budget cuts, thereby promoting stable district administration. The district office stated that the budget was prepared focusing on necessary expenses such as personnel costs and statutory expenses amid difficult economic conditions including revenue decline, and expressed concern that if the cuts remain, it would be impossible to operate projects essential to residents’ lives, potentially causing harm to the residents.
The reconsideration request targets five projects, amounting to 4.43 billion KRW out of the 8 billion KRW cut this time. These include: 1.5 billion KRW for waste disposal fees; 1.15 billion KRW for transfers to Jung-gu Facilities Management Corporation and consignment project costs for the Residents’ Hall; 1 billion KRW for consignment project costs for operating public parking lots and towing facilities; 500 million KRW for contributions to the Jung-gu Cultural Foundation; and 280 million KRW for private consignment fees for the Clothing Fashion Support Center.
In particular, the “waste disposal fees” are essential expenses required for bringing waste to the Mapo Resource Recovery Facility and landfill sites, with no alternative options. Failure to process waste on time directly affects residents’ living environment, hygiene, and health. It is not merely an issue of urban aesthetics or odor problems.
Similarly, if the operation of the Facilities Management Corporation, which manages 111 facilities including childcare, sports, and public parking lots, is disrupted, or if the operation and management of public parking lots are not smooth, it would cause significant inconvenience. If the operation of various facilities prepared for residents’ convenience is halted or aging facilities are not repaired in time, safety issues may arise, leading to serious harm to residents.
Moreover, the cut in private consignment fees for the Clothing Fashion Support Center would leave small-scale sewing businesses in Jung-gu vulnerable amid harsh economic conditions, and the Cultural Foundation would face difficulties in operating cultural welfare projects for residents, such as orchestras and musicals.
On the 12th, Jung-gu Mayor Kim Gil-seong held a press conference and expressed regret over the Jung-gu Council’s unfair budget cuts, stating, “The Jung-gu Council, which should represent 120,000 residents, has once again acted against the will of the residents by processing an abnormal budget bill.” Residents shared this sentiment, holding a rally condemning the Jung-gu Council with over 300 participants at the Residents’ Hall on the 26th, strongly urging the “restoration of the budget.”
Mayor Kim Gil-seong said, “Cutting budgets for projects directly related to residents’ lives ‘without principles or standards’ is an unreasonable behavior by the council that repeats every year,” and added, “Through this reconsideration request, we will correct this and ensure the budget is secured so that residents do not suffer any harm.”
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