The Legislative Yuan passed the central government budget this afternoon, cutting a total of 6.6 percent from the Cabinet’s proposal — the largest in history.
Revenue for the Cabinet’s proposed budget for this year was NT$3.1534 trillion (US$96.32 billion), with expenditures of NT$3.1325 trillion.
However, on Friday last week, opposition lawmakers voted in the majority to cut NT$93.98 billion from the budget’s general provisions.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
During a 20-hour continuous session from yesterday until this morning, they continued to slash the budgets of various government agencies.
Other cuts amounted to NT$113.6 billion, bringing the total budget cut to about NT$207.5 billion.
The Executive Yuan still needs to verify and implement budget cuts for various agencies.
Cuts from general provisions include a 10 percent cut to water and electricity fees, and 60 percent cut on special expenses.
Special expenses would be completely cut for the Executive Yuan, Mainland Affairs Council, Council of Indigenous Peoples, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Digital Affairs, National Communications Commission, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Civil Service, Control Yuan and Ministry of Labor.
There would also be a 3 percent cut on military equipment and facilities.
Media policy and promotion expenses would be uniformly cut by 60 percent, unless otherwise specified.
More controversial proposals include a 70 percent freeze on the Executive Yuan’s operational expenses, a 50 percent cut and 30 percent freeze on the Control Yuan’s operational expenses, a 50 percent freeze on the Ministry of National Defense’s submarine budget and a 50 percent freeze on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ operational expenses.
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