Urgent Livelihood Projects Overlooked, Including Arsenic Detection... Call for "True Cooperation"
Budget Increase Approved for 10 Projects Including Hwanam Yonggye-ri Water Supply, Totaling 5.215 Billion Won
The Yeongcheon City Council (Chairman Kim Seontae) has expressed strong regret over the city government's decision to "disapprove" the council's resolution to increase the 2026 main budget, calling it "the result of a lack of communication that ignores the voices of citizens."
On December 19, the council issued a statement explaining the legitimacy of the budget increase resolution made during the recent budget review process and urged the city administration to adopt a more forward-looking attitude.
◆"Projects Directly Linked to Citizens' Right to Livelihood... A Deliberate Decision by the Council"
The council emphasized that the decision to increase the budget was made after thorough deliberation by both the standing committee and the special committee on budget and accounts.
The increased budget covers a total of 10 projects, amounting to 5.215 billion won, with a primary focus on expanding infrastructure in underdeveloped areas and ensuring public safety.
Major projects include: ▲Water supply facility construction in Hwanam Yonggye-ri and Cheongtong Boseong-ri ▲Road expansion and construction in Hwanam, Gogeong, Daechang, and Wansan-dong areas ▲Improvement of small streams in Imgo Maeho-ri ▲Support for the supply of small and medium-sized agricultural machinery ▲Support for Children's Day events, among others.
In particular, the council underscored the urgency of the water supply facility project in Yonggye-ri, Hwanam-myeon.
A council official stated, "This area is the only one in the city without even a water supply plan. Recently, arsenic, a toxic substance, was detected in the groundwater, resulting in the area being deemed unsuitable for drinking water," adding, "Increasing the budget to address this blind spot, which is directly linked to residents' health, was an urgent and unavoidable task."
◆"Defensive Administration Citing Legal Responsibility Is Not True Cooperation"
The council strongly criticized the city administration for citing "legal responsibility" as grounds for disapproval and for announcing potential legal action.
In its statement, the council declared, "Unilateral disapproval does not constitute genuine cooperation," and pointed out, "Rather than maintaining a defensive stance, the city administration should have examined the rationale behind the council's request for a budget increase and proposed alternatives."
The council also clarified that the decision to increase the budget was not merely an exercise of authority, but a fundamental duty to represent the voices of citizens.
The Yeongcheon City Council proposed that the city administration re-examine the necessity of the increased projects and share the results of a detailed review of the city's financial situation.
Chairman Kim Seontae stated, "We must go beyond simply following formal procedures and realize true cooperation based on substantive communication and collaboration," adding, "The council will continue to fulfill its role in ensuring that projects closely tied to citizens' daily lives are promoted in a reasonable manner, while respecting relevant laws and regulations."
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