Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Submits 770.8 Billion Won in Supplementary Budget for COVID-19 Response

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] On the 27th, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education submitted the "2020 Gyeonggi Provincial Education Special Account Second Supplementary Budget for Revenue and Expenditure" to the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, totaling 17.4919 trillion won, an increase of 770.8 billion won from the previously planned budget of 16.7211 trillion won.

Among the supplementary budget proposals from the provincial education office, the revenue budget comprises ▲418.3 billion won in central government transfers ▲103.6 billion won in local government transfers ▲245.1 billion won in net budget surplus ▲3.8 billion won in national treasury and subsidy refunds, totaling 770.8 billion won.

The expenditure budget totals 770.8 billion won, compiled to include ▲30 billion won for COVID-19 response ▲403.7 billion won for economic activation ▲358.9 billion won for fixed expenses ▲34.4 billion won for self-funding and special grants, along with 56.2 billion won reflecting reductions in unexecuted projects and internal reserves.

Among the expenditure budget for COVID-19 response projects, 30 billion won has been allocated, including ▲21.1 billion won in financial support for private kindergartens ▲3 billion won for kindergarten emergency childcare operations ▲5.9 billion won for remote learning support for elementary, middle, and high schools.

For economic activation projects, 403.7 billion won has been allocated, including ▲304.1 billion won for school construction and expansion projects ▲21.8 billion won for dining facility and equipment expansion ▲62.6 billion won for environmental improvement projects ▲3 billion won for composite special education classroom construction and operation support ▲1.5 billion won for establishing a northern early childhood experience education center ▲10.1 billion won for current issues and demands of education support offices and affiliated institutions ▲0.6 billion won for miscellaneous expenses.

For fixed expenses, 358.9 billion won has been allocated, including ▲251.4 billion won for unbudgeted staff salaries ▲94.9 billion won for increased early childhood education costs ▲12.6 billion won for additional education civil service staff salaries.

For self-funding and special grant projects, 34.4 billion won has been allocated, including ▲2.5 billion won for school violence prevention support ▲1.8 billion won for purchasing fine dust measuring equipment in schools ▲0.4 billion won for assistive technology equipment support for students with visual and hearing disabilities ▲2.2 billion won for installing traffic safety facilities in child protection zones ▲27.5 billion won for miscellaneous expenses.

The reduced project budgets total 56.2 billion won, including ▲23.6 billion won for educational environment improvement facilities ▲4.1 billion won for private investment project repayment ▲4.1 billion won for unconducted teacher and local civil servant training costs ▲10.1 billion won for internal reserves ▲14.3 billion won for miscellaneous expenses.

Yi Han-bok, policy planning official at the provincial education office, explained the supplementary budget proposal, stating "This is a budget aimed at supporting school sites facing disruptions in academic operations due to prolonged COVID-19 and revitalizing the stagnant local economy." He added, "Through this second supplementary budget, we hope to support schools facing difficulties due to COVID-19 and contribute to the local economy through swift budget execution."

Meanwhile, the 2020 second supplementary revenue and expenditure budget proposal submitted by the provincial education office is scheduled to be reviewed at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly plenary session on the 9th of next month.