Ganghwa County Compiles Main Budget of 614.6 Billion Won for Next Year

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Ganghwa County announced on the 30th that it has submitted the main budget proposal for next year to the provincial assembly at a scale of 614.6 billion won, an increase of 50.8 billion won compared to this year's main budget of 563.8 billion won.

Revenue sources include local taxes of 51.2 billion won, non-tax revenue of 25.9 billion won, local transfer tax of 261.9 billion won, adjustment grants of 9.6 billion won, national treasury subsidies of 175.8 billion won, and provincial subsidy matching funds of 79.2 billion won.

The local transfer tax secured an additional 45.9 billion won compared to last year, with financial independence rising to 56.7%, an increase of 2.3 percentage points from last year. In particular, national treasury subsidies secured an additional 10.6 billion won compared to last year through active administrative efforts in budget acquisition. However, provincial subsidy matching funds fell short at 79.2 billion won, a decrease of 300 million won from last year.

Next year's main budget was compiled with emphasis on successful completion of major projects in the 7th elected term through selective concentration of financial operations, recovery of regional economic dynamism, expansion of social safety nets, and improvement of residents' quality of life.

Major budget allocations include social safety net expansion and quality of life improvement budgets such as △66.2 billion won for elderly welfare projects including basic pensions △17.7 billion won for disabled welfare projects including disability pensions and disability activity support △19.3 billion won for child and infant support projects, and regional economic vitality recovery and quality job creation support budgets of △3.3 billion won for traditional market and small business daily quarantine and facility improvement support △1.2 billion won for public works and startup/job creation support.

Additionally, to improve residents' safety and convenience in daily life, the budget reflects △12 billion won for national and local-managed levee restoration and repair △4.4 billion won for township wastewater treatment facility improvement projects △29.7 billion won for county roads, rural roads and urban planning roads △4.4 billion won for coastal improvement projects △2.3 billion won for public parking lot development △5.1 billion won for installation of neighborhood recycling centers and provision of dedicated recycling bags. Support for elderly economic activities and leisure culture includes △12.7 billion won for elderly job and social activity support projects △3 billion won for senior center operations and function improvement, and support for prosperous rural fishing villages includes △1.7 billion won for future agricultural center infrastructure construction △1.5 billion won for Ganghwa advanced agriculture promotion support △1.8 billion won for Ganghwa ginseng production infrastructure development and agricultural product standard packaging material support △12.85 billion won for fishing village new deal project implementation.

County Governor Yu Cheon-ho stated, "While prioritizing protection of county residents from COVID-19, we will lead a phased return to normal," adding "together with approximately 700 civil servants in this rapidly changing era, we will successfully conclude the 7th elected term and breathe new vitality into the regional economy."