Policy Speech at City Council: Next Year's Budget Increased by 18.8% to 1.3471 Trillion Won
"Leaping Toward a More Competent Gwangmyeong... Advancing as a City Where Everyone Prospers Together"
Park Seungwon, mayor of Gwangmyeong City in Gyeonggi Province, declared a "leap toward a more competent Gwangmyeong" and unveiled next year's budget management plan, which focuses on livelihood, the future, and sustainable growth.
Park Seungwon, Mayor of Gwangmyeong City, is delivering a policy speech at the city council on the 19th. Through the policy speech, Mayor Park announced a budget management plan encompassing livelihood, future, and sustainability for "leaping forward to a more competent Gwangmyeong." Provided by Gwangmyeong City
In his policy speech at the second regular session of the city council held on the 19th, Mayor Park stated, "Despite the numerous challenges faced during the 8th popularly elected administration, Gwangmyeong has steadfastly upheld people-centered values and demonstrated the city's resilience," adding, "We will not lose sight of our original intention to create a Gwangmyeong where everyone prospers together, and we will move forward as a sustainable city."
On this day, the city submitted next year's budget proposal of 1.3471 trillion won to the city council, an 18.8% increase compared to this year's original budget.
Through his policy speech, Mayor Park presented the following as the core pillars of next year's fiscal management: ▲revitalizing the local economy ▲strengthening the basic social safety net ▲enhancing urban sustainability ▲fostering future industries. He explained, "We have restructured the budget based on people-centered values and responsibility for future generations, moving beyond growth-first principles."
In the area of revitalizing the local economy, for which a budget of 49.7 billion won has been allocated, the city will invest 13.6 billion won in issuing the local currency, Gwangmyeong Sarang Gift Certificates, and will maintain or increase the incentive rate to promote local economic recovery. Next year, a new "10% cashback on family dining" program will be introduced, along with initiatives such as ▲establishing a Social Economy Innovation Center ▲operating public pop-up stores ▲expanding the local brand "Good Morning Gwangmyeong."
In the employment sector, 31.3 billion won has been secured to establish customized employment safety nets for each stage of life, including youth, middle-aged, older adults, and people with disabilities. The city will also promote projects to improve the labor environment, such as tailored job support, skills development, operation of the Labor Rights Center, and the creation of rest areas for mobile workers.
The city will invest 50.2 billion won in life-cycle support to realize a basic social safety net. Initiatives include the "10% cashback on book purchases" program, which originated from citizen proposals, as well as maintaining key life-stage policies such as childbirth celebration grants, the "Aijoa First Birthday" program, and incentives for fathers taking paternity leave.
To improve the childcare environment, the city will continue to expand public daycare centers and operate the "Anytime Daycare Center" and "All-Day Library School" programs. Everyday care safety nets for seniors will also be strengthened, including seasonal fruit support, smart care services, and the establishment of Senior Happiness Centers.
For the realization of a sustainable city through carbon neutrality and garden city initiatives, 45.9 billion won has been allocated. The city will strengthen citizen participation-based climate policies, such as operating Climate Week, expanding the Climate Volunteer Corps, and creating a climate human rights city. Plans also include systematically expanding carbon reduction infrastructure through green remodeling of public facilities and expanding support projects for the convergence and integration of renewable energy supply.
Green infrastructure will also be significantly expanded. To increase urban green spaces, the city will implement projects such as ▲Sohwa Cultural Park (15 billion won) ▲Gahaksan Arboretum (2.4 billion won) ▲Gwangmyeong 5-dong Urban Forest (1.1 billion won) ▲Jakyeong Village Park (1 billion won).
To foster future industries, the city will begin selling lots in the Gwangmyeong Siheung Technovalley next year and will newly launch initiatives such as investment attraction subsidies and corporate expos. Major development projects, including the construction of the K-Innovation Town, site development for the Gwangmyeong Haan 2 Public Housing District, and compensation for the Gwangmyeong Siheung New Town, will also be expedited. To accommodate the rapidly increasing traffic volume, the city will steadily expand metropolitan and public transportation, including the Shinansan Line, Wolgot-Pangyo Line, Gwangmyeong Siheung Line, and commuter public buses.
Mayor Park stated, "Gwangmyeong has always found a way even in times of crisis and has preserved the values of community and democracy amid confusion," adding, "We will do our utmost to ensure that this budget becomes a solid foundation for Gwangmyeong to reach greater heights."
The city's proposed budget for next year is scheduled to be finalized after review by the city council's standing committee and the Special Budget and Accounts Committee on December 19.
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