▲ Gyeonggi Governor Meets with City and County Mayors Council Leadership
Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae held a meeting with the executive leadership of the Gyeonggi Council of Mayors and County Heads on the 21st at Dodamso (the former official residence of the governor) and asked for cooperation in resolving fiscal issues.
The council's executive leadership includes President Choi Dae-ho (Mayor of Anyang), Vice Presidents Min Kyung-sen (Mayor of Goyang), Kim Bora (Mayor of Anseong), Seo Tae-won (Mayor of Gapyeong), and Im Byung-taek (Mayor of Si-heung), Auditor Jeon Jin-seon (Mayor of Yangpyeong), and Spokesperson Jung Myeong-keun (Mayor of Hwaseong).
"Next year, even assuming we issue local government bonds to the maximum limit, we will still face a fiscal shortfall of over 1 trillion won," Governor Choo said. "The projects and priorities that each region needs to focus on will vary. Because there are significant disparities in fiscal capacity among cities and counties, we must carefully review the necessity and the degree of fiscal burden through communication."
She added, "We have not fixed the provincial subsidy rate at a flat percentage. We will individually examine the conditions facing each city and county, along with the weight of the projects," explaining, "We will listen closely to opinions through the council and are open to making adjustments."
In response, President Choi Dae-ho said, "Gyeonggi Province and its cities and counties must pool their wisdom to prevent any contraction in livelihood budgets directly tied to the lives of residents," adding, "As a practical communication channel connecting all 31 cities and counties, we will faithfully convey their voices and fulfill our role."
It has been reported that Gyeonggi Province is considering lowering the provincial subsidy rate (cost-sharing ratio) for cooperative projects with cities and counties to 30% next year, while differentially subsidizing them based on local fiscal conditions.
During the meeting, discussions were also held on a future response fund utilizing additional tax revenues generated from the semiconductor boom. Governor Choo and the leadership shared the view that the fund should be operated in a direction that does not reduce local government finances.
(Photo provided by Gyeonggi Province, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.