The central government’s Overall Planning Fund (統籌款) for the 2015 fiscal year has been revealed, with 65 percent of the fund going to the five special municipalities and Taoyuan County, while the remaining local governments are to receive 35 percent.
According to the Ministry of Finance, Taipei is to receive NT$36.3 billion (US$1.2 billion), averaging NT$10 billion more than the New Taipei City and Greater Kaohsiung, which have larger populations than Taipei.
Taipei would receive an average of NT$13,500 per resident, almost double the amount per resident in New Taipei City, Yilan, Changhua and Hsinchu counties.
According to Ministry of Finance, fund distribution next year — not including a special overall planning fund — is estimated at NT$225 billion, a NT$17.3 billion increase from last year.
A total of NT$205 billion is to be distributed among 22 local governments, with NT$19.4 billion to be shared among townships, the ministry data said.
The five special municipalities and Taoyuan County, which is due to become the nation’s sixth special municipality on Dec. 25, are to receive more than NT$145.6 billion of the fund, the data showed.
Taipei, with NT$36.3 billion, is to see an increase of NT$2.5 billion from last year and ranks as the municipality with the most funding, while New Taipei City came in second with NT$26.5 billion, a NT$1.6 billion increase from last year, the ministry data showed.
Greater Kaohsiung is to receive NT$25.8 billion, a NT$1.5 billion increase from last year, Greater Taichung is to get NT$22.1 billion, NT$1.5 billion more than last year, and Greater Tainan is to receive NT$l7.4 billion, an increase of NT$844 million over last year’s amount.
Taoyuan County is to receive NT$17.2 billion, an NT$5.1 million from last year, due to its imminent elevation in administrative status, the ministry said.
Lienchiang County is to receive the most money per resident on average, due to its low population, with NT$26,7000, while Penghu County receives about NT$16,400 per person, the data showed.
Hsinchu County is to be allocated an average of NT$6,000 per resident, while Changhua County is to get NT$6,300 per person, the ministry said, adding that Yilan County has an average of NT$6,600 and New Taipei City, NT$6,700 per resident.
The National Treasury Administration said the central government’s financial aid to local governments is provided not only through the fund, but also via various subsidies.
An amendment to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) would also increase aid to local governments.
The amendment would consider local counties and township’s financial standing and financial possibilities as primary concerns, the agency said, adding that other indices may be considered as well.
The fund is gathered by taking 10 percent of the income tax, 40 percent of the business taxes after deducting amounts for the Unified Invoice Lottery, 10 percent of taxes on goods and 20 percent of land taxes from cities and counties not including municipalities.
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