Record High Special Grants Secured at 20.2 Billion KRW
Active Efforts Including Dedicated Team Operation Yield Results
Ulsan City has secured a record-high amount of 929.9 billion KRW in ordinary local allocation tax for 2025.
This represents a 4% (37.5 billion KRW) increase compared to 892.4 billion KRW in 2024.
Accordingly, Ulsan City's secured national budget for 2025 will total 3.5328 trillion KRW, the largest ever, combining the already decided 2.6029 trillion KRW with the ordinary local allocation tax of 929.9 billion KRW.
Additionally, the special local allocation tax also reached a record high of 20.2 billion KRW, a 42% (6 billion KRW) increase from 14.2 billion KRW the previous year.
Ulsan City plans to steadily carry out urgent projects to improve residents' convenience and enhance safety using the secured special local allocation tax, including △ expansion of the public parking lot in front of Pyeongchang Hyundai (9 billion KRW) and △ creation of a bicycle pump track and MTB practice ground (1.5 billion KRW).
The ordinary local allocation tax is an autonomous revenue source distributed by the government to local governments experiencing fiscal deficits, amounting to 97% of 19.24% of the total domestic tax revenue. Unlike designated national subsidies, local governments can use it at their discretion. The special local allocation tax is a budget allocated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to local governments with special financial needs such as regional issues and disaster safety.
Despite the government's tight fiscal conditions, Ulsan City operated a dedicated team and continuously identified demands and refined basic statistics to secure the largest-ever ordinary local allocation tax. The city also made persistent visits to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to actively appeal the necessity of increasing Ulsan City's allocation tax, making multifaceted efforts.
In particular, during the national audit in October, the city pointed out that the support through ordinary local allocation tax was insufficient compared to Ulsan's contribution in national tax payments, and as a result of continued persuasion with the government and local political circles, this achievement was realized.
With Ulsan City securing sufficient ordinary local allocation tax, which is used as general revenue, it is expected to greatly help resolve citizens' livelihood issues and revitalize the local economy by enabling the smooth promotion of key projects.
An official from Ulsan City stated, “Although it was difficult to secure allocation tax due to the government's challenging fiscal situation, this achievement was possible thanks to the efforts of employees, related parties, and local members of the National Assembly,” adding, “Next year, we will do our best to secure ordinary local allocation tax and devote ourselves to regional development and resolving residents' urgent projects.”
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