SUWON — The Democratic Party caucus in the Gyeonggi Provincial Council issued a formal apology to residents on the 23rd after failing to pass a supplementary budget ahead of the Chuseok holiday.
In a statement, the caucus said it had sought to approve spending on livelihood and welfare programs before the holiday but could not reach an agreement with Gyeonggi Province. "We offer our apologies to the residents of Gyeonggi Province," it said.
The caucus said the spending it sought to restore covered livelihood and welfare programs still judged necessary on the ground. That conclusion, it said, followed reviews by standing committees and the special committee on budget and accounts that confirmed the need for the programs, gathered views from the field and weighed the effect the cuts would have on residents.
"We repeatedly confirmed the gaps and burdens the cuts would create on the ground, and our aim was to revive the parts that must be addressed," the caucus said. "Above all, residents must not face hardship because of gaps in livelihood and welfare programs just before Chuseok."
The caucus acknowledged that the provincial government and the council may reach different judgments. "That makes it all the more important to fully verify and adjust each side's reasoning," it said, urging Governor Choo Mi-ae to "take another look at the voices from the field reflected in the council's budget review."
The caucus also addressed the province's fiscal condition. "We will not turn away from the fiscal difficulties," it said. "We will do our utmost to the end with a responsible attitude." It added that it would "continue negotiating to the end on this supplementary budget so that Gyeonggi Province and the provincial council can address both fiscal soundness and residents' livelihoods together."
Gyeonggi Province, for its part, said the talks had not broken down entirely. "There has been a degree of convergence in the negotiations, and we are continuing discussions centered on livelihood spending such as postpartum care subsidies," the province said.
The province expressed clear concern, however, about how the additional spending would be funded. "Among the options for raising additional revenue to increase spending, relying on debt-based funding raises serious concerns because it could further worsen the current fiscal crisis," it said.
The province added that it would "do its utmost to complete the supplementary budget vote as soon as possible through close consultation with the provincial council to the very end, so that livelihood programs proceed without disruption."
The supplementary budget bill was not tabled at the fourth plenary session of the 393rd extraordinary session on the 18th, and it remained unpassed even after the session was extended to the 20th. With no agreement reached in further discussions, the extraordinary session adjourned automatically.
During line-item adjustments, the budget and accounts committee drew up a plan to increase or restore about 80 billion won in spending, mainly in livelihood and welfare areas, from the budget the provincial government had submitted with cuts. Gyeonggi Province did not agree to the plan, and the two sides failed to find common ground, sources said.
