Hwaseong's Urban Free School Meals Program Delayed to Next Year

The implementation timeline for Hwaseong Mayor Chae In-seok's fifth-term campaign promise to provide eco-friendly free school meals in urban areas is expected to be pushed back to next year.

According to Hwaseong City Council and the city, the eco-friendly free school meals budget of 956 million won for urban areas was cut during the preliminary review of the second supplementary budget for fiscal 2024 held on the 26th by departments under the Welfare and Environment Committee (chaired by Kim Jung-ju).

Committee members from the Welfare and Environment Committee agreed to reflect the urban free school meals budget in next year's main budget rather than immediately allocating it, citing Hwaseong City's difficult financial situation that necessitates austerity measures including budget cuts.

Additionally, opinions were expressed that the free school meals budget and support for insufficient meal facilities at some schools in the Dongtan area should be jointly established in next year's budget.

Kim Jung-ju, chairman of the city council's Welfare and Environment Committee, stated, "The city is facing an expected 176 billion won deficit in the second half," and "While the free school meals budget is important, committee members have agreed to reflect it in next year's main budget."

Chairman Kim also explained, "The opinion of the members is that support for insufficient meal facilities at some schools in the Dongtan area should be coordinated as well."

According to Hwaseong City's Human Resources Development Division, some elementary schools in the Dongtan area face a shortage of meal facilities, with students eating in three or four shifts.

An official from the Human Resources Development Division stated, "According to education office standards, when the average meal facility turnover rate is 2.5 times, it is considered insufficient," and "Eight elementary schools in the Dongtan area were found to have turnover rates of 2.5 times or higher."

However, some members of the city council have expressed regret over the budget cut for eco-friendly free school meals.

Councilor A said, "Free school meals already being implemented in rural areas are also demanded in urban areas, so it's unfortunate that the budget was cut this time," adding, "We need to review the city's overall budget and prepare so that (the free school meals budget) is established next year."

As the eco-friendly free school meals budget for urban areas was cut in the committee's preliminary review, Mayor Chae In-seok's plan to focus on "education and welfare" in the second half's budget operations, including expanding free school meals to elementary school students (grades 5-6) in urban areas starting in September, is expected to face setbacks.

Meanwhile, Hwaseong City is currently providing free school meals with a budget of 6.1 billion won to 14,143 students at 42 elementary schools in rural and fishing areas.