Gyeonggi Province Compiles 33.5661 Trillion Won in Main Budget for Next Year...First Time Breaking 30 Trillion Won in Main Budget

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province has compiled 33.5661 trillion won in its budget proposal for next year.

This is the largest scale on record, marking the first time breaking through 30 trillion won in main budget, representing a 16.3% increase of 4.6937 trillion won compared to this year's 28.8724 trillion won.

Choi Won-yong, head of Gyeonggi Province's Planning and Coordination Office, held a press conference at the North Building of Gyeonggi Provincial Government on the 1st to announce the main budget compilation plan for next year.

The province plans to submit the budget proposal to the Gyeonggi Provincial Council on the 2nd. The budget proposal will undergo review by each standing committee from the 19th to the 26th, followed by budget and settlement committee review from the 29th through December 10th, and is scheduled for final passage on December 13th.

Gyeonggi Province's budget proposal for next year contains plans to focus investment in five key areas with the top priority of 'Creating a Fair Gyeonggi Province Led by Its People.'

The 'five key investment focus areas' are presented as follows: ▲A harmonious Gyeonggi Province where citizens are the masters ▲A welfare Gyeonggi Province guaranteeing the basics of life ▲A fair Gyeonggi Province overflowing with innovative economy ▲A clean environment Gyeonggi Province worth living in ▲A safe and enjoyable Gyeonggi Province.

■ 2022 Budget Overview
The 2022 budget proposal is composed of a general account of 29.9414 trillion won and a special account of 3.6247 trillion won.

Examining the major revenue sectors of the general account, local taxes for next year are estimated at 17.1446 trillion won, an increase of 4.5085 trillion won compared to this year's 12.6361 trillion won, while dependent revenues such as national treasury subsidies are 11.5140 trillion won, an increase of 921 billion won compared to this year's 10.5919 trillion won.

Expenditure has allocated 505.5 billion won for administrative operating expenses such as personnel costs and 2.0820 trillion won for financial activities including special account for fire and safety and disaster management fund transfers. Policy projects include statutory expenditures of 9.5095 trillion won such as transfers to municipal governments and education offices, 13.1246 trillion won for national treasury subsidy projects, and 3.3486 trillion won for autonomous projects.

By sector, welfare budget accounts for the largest proportion at 40.9%, amounting to 12.2453 trillion won, an increase of 1.3261 trillion won compared to this year's 10.9192 trillion won. The economic sector has been allocated 6.851 trillion won, an increase of 18.9% (109.1 billion won) compared to this year's 576 billion won due to expanded issuance of local currency and the creation of a new basic finance fund for Gyeonggi Province. In particular, 182.4 billion won in total funding is allocated to COVID-19 response budgets including vaccine inoculation and enhancement of public medical center capacity. The key investment areas are as follows.

■ A Harmonious Gyeonggi Province Where Citizens Are the Masters
502.8 billion won has been reflected to realize 'A Harmonious Gyeonggi Province Where Citizens Are the Masters' through support for youth and workers, strengthening local autonomy and decentralization, and support for the northern Gyeonggi region.

First, 275.2 billion won is allocated to strengthen local autonomy and decentralization through collaborative governance between the province and municipal governments, and to realize direct democracy through expanded citizen participation. Additionally, 334.3 billion won is invested in realizing fair provincial governance through support for youth and workers, protection of human rights and promotion of gender equality, and support for public interest whistleblowing.

Furthermore, 88.4 billion won in budget has been reflected to develop U.S. military-provided land and DMZ-related projects and to develop northern Gyeonggi into a center of peace and prosperity, including the establishment of a Gyeonggi Unification+ (Plus) Center.

Representative projects include support for working youth (support for young workers in small and medium enterprises, welfare points, and pensions) (73.5 billion won), youth worker savings accounts (27.6 billion won), youth interview allowances (10.4 billion won), and regional settlement-type youth job creation projects (16 billion won).

■ A Welfare Gyeonggi Province Guaranteeing the Basics of Life
A total of 11.9803 trillion won has been reflected in the sector to build 'A Welfare Gyeonggi Province.'

First, 7.7391 trillion won is invested in realizing three core welfare benefits including postpartum care subsidies, free school uniforms, and youth basic income, as well as 'customized welfare projects by life cycle.' In addition, 4.1481 trillion won has been allocated to enhance the quality of childcare through public childcare, strengthen child welfare, and strengthen public healthcare to eliminate health disparities among residents.

Furthermore, 1.1729 trillion won is reflected in providing 'non-discriminatory and equal welfare services' to socially vulnerable groups including the disabled, multicultural families, and single-parent families.

Representative projects include COVID-19 medical institution preventive vaccination implementation costs (146.7 billion won), the first meeting gift coupon project to increase birth rates (128.1 billion won), Gyeonggi Province youth basic income (107.4 billion won), and Gyeonggi Province farmer basic income (78 billion won).

■ A Fair Gyeonggi Province Overflowing with Innovative Economy
A total of 2.0222 trillion won is invested in revitalizing the local economy based on fairness and innovation.

First, 403 billion won has been reflected for small business owners and small-scale self-employed individuals. In particular, 188.4 billion won has been allocated to local currency-related projects, which originated in Gyeonggi Province and are spreading nationwide, to serve as a driving force for local economic revitalization. In addition, 159.8 billion won is allocated to the sector that creates a favorable business environment and supports innovative industries to create good jobs, while 1.4594 trillion won has been allocated respectively to activate the social economy and shared economy and strengthen competitiveness of rural and fishing areas.

Representative projects include support for school meal expenses in elementary, middle, and high schools (189 billion won), local currency issuance support (188.4 billion won), support for eco-friendly high-quality agricultural products school meals (27 billion won), Gyeonggi Province carbon-neutral fund creation (6 billion won), and traditional market facility modernization support (6 billion won).

■ A Clean Environment Gyeonggi Province Worth Living In
A total of 3.4280 trillion won has been reflected in projects to enhance the quality of life for residents through a clean environment, stable housing, and convenient transportation.

First, 1.5305 trillion won is expected to be used to improve public transportation safely and conveniently and to expand transportation infrastructure such as railroads and roads to enhance residents' transportation welfare. In addition, 179.1 billion won is invested in projects that stabilize housing environments for common people such as existing housing purchase and lease projects and projects that create pleasant residential environments such as Gyeonggi Province-style urban regeneration. Furthermore, a total of 1.7184 trillion won has been allocated to create a clean environment through clean air and clean water initiatives.

Representative projects include hydrogen and electric vehicle supply (419.8 billion won), Seoul metropolitan area transit discount support (220 billion won), Gyeonggi Province public bus operation support (75.4 billion won), and existing housing purchase and lease support (11.7 billion won).

■ A Safe and Enjoyable Gyeonggi Province
1.2737 trillion won has been reflected in sectors to guarantee fundamental rights of Gyeonggi residents including safety, education, and culture and sports.

First, 622 billion won is invested in reinforcing firefighting capabilities and creating a safe Gyeonggi Province that protects residents' daily lives and safeguards citizens' lives and property. In addition, 445.3 billion won has been reflected to provide diverse opportunities for cultural activities that can be enjoyed in daily life and to guarantee basic educational rights, while 206.4 billion won is invested in promoting residents' health rights through sports activities to emphasize improvement of quality of life for residents.

Representative projects include construction of national sports centers (34.9 billion won), public library construction support (31.6 billion won), school indoor gymnasium construction (30.8 billion won), firefighting equipment reinforcement (27 billion won), and Gyeonggi Province representative library construction (12.6 billion won).