Gyeonggi Mayors and County Governors Association Holds '7th Regular Meeting of Elected Officials 8th Term'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] The Gyeonggi Mayors and County Governors Association (Chairman Ju Kwang-deok, Mayor of Namyangju) held its 7th regular meeting of the elected officials 8th term on the 12th at the Namyangju Gyeonggi Citizens Media Center, with 31 officials from 31 cities and counties in the province and their deputies in attendance.

The meeting, presided over by Ju Kwang-deok, Mayor of Namyangju and Chairman of the Gyeonggi Mayors and County Governors Association, proceeded in the order of deliberation on the election of the second-half executive officers for the 8th term and the deliberation of agenda items proposed by each city and county.

In the agenda deliberation that day, a total of 34 items were presented, including 21 proposals to Gyeonggi Province such as a request to increase the province's cost-sharing ratio, and 13 proposals to the central government including suggestions for improving the autonomous operation scope system when calculating penalties for standard personnel costs, and an in-depth discussion was conducted.

In particular, regarding Gyeonggi Province's public management system for intra-city buses and school meal expenses, which are placing a heavier financial burden on cities and counties due to high cost-sharing ratios, the association adopted a proposal calling for adjustment of cost-sharing ratios and agreed to convey strong positions to Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education.

Meanwhile, the vice chairpersons for the 8th term executive officers are △Kim Gyeong-il, Mayor of Paju △Lee Kwon-jae, Mayor of Osan △Kim Deok-hyun, County Governor of Yeoncheon. Lee Chung-woo, Mayor of Yeoju, was elected as auditor; Bang Se-hwan, Mayor of Gwangju, as secretary general; and Shin Gye-yong, Mayor of Gwacheon, as spokesperson. The next 8th regular meeting will be held in the second quarter, with Paju designated as the venue.

Chairman Ju Kwang-deok stated, "This is a time when all 31 cities and counties must pool their wisdom to navigate through the current chaotic times," and added, "We will do our best to ensure that active policy proposals and institutional improvements that can be felt by residents are made through genuine communication with all 31 mayors and county governors, so that the people's livelihood economy can recover as soon as possible."