2024 Governor-Mayor and County Head Policy Meeting
Kim Dong-geun, Mayor of Uijeongbu City, proposed an expansion of the provincial subsidy rate to secure the stability of local finances at the ‘Governor-Mayor and County Governor Policy Meeting’ held at Gyeonggi Provincial Government on the 11th.
Mayor Kim Dong-geun is conveying Uijeongbu City's suggestions to Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon at the 'Governor-Mayor and County Heads Policy Meeting' held at Gyeonggi Provincial Office on November 11. Photo by Uijeongbu City
The policy meeting, chaired by Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon, was attended by 20 heads of 31 cities and counties in the province and 11 deputy heads, and proceeded with discussions on establishing a joint response system to the climate crisis and speeches on requests regarding local issues in each city and county.
Mayor Kim Dong-geun stated, “We request an increase in the subsidy rate for projects promoted under the jurisdiction of Gyeonggi Province so that each city and county can focus on their own projects aimed at urban development and establishing a self-sufficient foundation.”
According to the ‘Gyeonggi Province Local Subsidy Management Ordinance,’ Gyeonggi Province supports project costs from 30% to 70% to cities and counties, and stipulates that differential subsidy rates can be applied considering the financial independence of local governments.
However, in Uijeongbu City, 5 out of 19 large-scale social welfare projects with a total project cost exceeding 1 billion KRW receive provincial subsidies at 10-15%, which is below the standard subsidy rate. In particular, the Gyeonggi Province Bus Public Management System project, which has a heavy local government financial burden, is a project under the jurisdiction of Gyeonggi Province, but Uijeongbu City’s burden rate reaches 70%, which is pointed out as a factor accelerating financial difficulties.
Mayor Kim Dong-geun emphasized, “Currently, most of the city’s budget is consumed by the local government’s share of national and provincial subsidy projects,” and added, “Please consider raising the subsidy rate for provincial subsidy projects in consideration of the financial capacity of cities and counties.”
In addition, Mayor Kim Dong-geun requested Gyeonggi Province’s active cooperation for the additional designation of the Gyeonggi Free Economic Zone to establish a core convergence industry hub in northern Gyeonggi centered on the returned concession area, and support for the promotion of the extension of Subway Line 8 (Byeollae Line) to Uijeongbu.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
