As the KMT worries that its NT$300 billion in assets could be audited, the DPP is desperately seeking ways to raise funds for its new headquarters.
"We desperately need money to purchase a permanent office for the party headquarters," said Michael You (游盈隆), deputy secretary-general of the DPP, yesterday.
For the past six years, the DPP has been paying NT$2 million a month to lease three 40-ping floors of a 16-story building located at the intersection of Shaoshing N Road and Beiping E Road in downtown Taipei.
The party began to ponder moving to a new building after it swept to power in May 2000.
However, the dream may be difficult to realize as the party has neither sufficient assets nor runs party-owned enterprises.
"I suspect we wouldn't be able to afford one-tenth, or even less of the down payment if we plan to buy a new place as big as what we're renting now," You said.
According to You, the party has saved about NT$100 million in its house-procurement fund, but offices of 1,000 pings may cost between NT$500 million and NT$600 million.
"Even though we have saved some money, it is simply not enough," You said.
Undisclosed internal financial records showed that the party's annual income last year amounted to about NT$340 million and annual expenses were about NT$320 million.
Income primarily came from the fees levied on party members and from the NT$150 million annual political-party subsidy from the central government.
Major disbursements went to personnel expenses (about 24 percent), subsidies to local chapters (about 22 percent) and administrative expenditures (about 9 percent).
To more effectively handle the procurement of a permanent headquarters, the party formed a three-person house-procurement team yesterday.
The three members are incoming party Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung (
They said an ideal location would be somewhere near the current headquarters.
"We would like to find a place in the vicinity of the Legislative Yuan, the Presidential Office or the Executive Yuan, although we're well aware that the real estate prices in those areas are quite expensive," Ker said.
Judging from the current real estate situation, Ker said that it seems logical to purchase a permanent office rather than renting one for the some 110 employees at the headquarters.
"I suspect we'd have to pay NT$100,000 more every month if we are to buy a place," Ker said.
Chen Zau-nan (
"We'd like to buy the place, but he wanted NT$400,000 per ping and that was just too much for us," Chen said.
"Besides, the owner later decided not to sell it."
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