Suwon to Recruit 20 Residents for Seventh-Term Participatory Budget Committee

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Junseong] Suwon Special City announced on the 9th that it will publicly recruit 20 members for the seventh-term resident participatory budget committee from January 12 through 6 p.m. on the 26th, with plans to operate the participatory budget system centered on resident autonomous councils starting this year to realize substantive resident autonomy.

Recruitment is open to any resident registered in Suwon as of the announcement date (January 12) and executives or staff of businesses, educational institutions, corporations, and non-profit civic organizations with addresses in Suwon. Considering gender, age, and region of applicants, committee candidates will be selected in February, and only those who complete the 'Resident Participatory Budget School' course will be appointed as committee members.

Those selected as resident participatory budget committee members will serve as committee members for approximately two years until December 31 next year.

By participating in the budget compilation process, members will perform activities including △gathering resident opinions △reviewing and adjusting priorities for city and district-related projects and approving or requesting reconsideration of projects submitted at regional conferences △submitting final confirmed participatory budgets △presenting opinions on rational approaches to advancing resident participatory budget projects and the city budget △reflecting departmental budgets according to priority decisions, monitoring execution results △and promoting and educating the public about the budget.

Applications are accepted from January 12 through the Suwon City website (http://www.suwon.go.kr) 'Saebit Toctoc' application board by searching for 'Resident Participatory Budget System' and submitting an application. Application documents may also be submitted in person or by mail (Village Autonomy Division, Suwon City Hall, 241 Hyowon-ro, Paldal-gu, Suwon).

The resident participatory budget system, a representative governance initiative of the city, is designed to legally and institutionally guarantee resident participation in the budget compilation process. To strengthen resident participation and realize substantive resident autonomy, the city plans to improve the system starting in 2024 by having each dong's resident autonomous council perform the functions of the district regional conference, and by having resident general assemblies determine budget project priorities for each dong.