The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is requesting to cut 3.47 percent, or NT$111.1 billion (US$3.37 billion), from this year’s central government budget, KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) said today.
The budget for next year is under review in the Legislative Yuan.
The Executive Yuan submitted a finalized budget proposal and sent it to the legislature for review in August last year, which forecast annual revenue of NT$3.15 trillion and expenses of NT$3.13 trillion, for a surplus of NT$20.9 billion.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
The forecasted revenue and expenses are not only an all-time high, but much of the budget is inflated, Fu told a news conference attended by all KMT legislators in front of the Legislative Yuan.
The KMT's proposal is in line with budget cuts of previous years and is not excessive, he added.
Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) earlier told lawmakers that NT$200 million is needed in this year’s defense budget for submarines, which are critical to national defense efforts.
Fu said that the KMT proposal would support the national defense budget, but freeze any inflated portions, meaning they would be placed under close review, but not entirely cut.
In response to suggested cuts to Taiwan Power Co’s (Taipower) requested supplementary budget of NT$100 billion, Fu said that each year, Taipower subsidies come from the pockets of hardworking taxpayers in a flawed policy to cover up corruption within factions of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
The KMT would not agree to the DPP continuing to take money from the public, he said, calling on the ruling party to instead adjust its energy policies to stop corruption.
Promotional budgets and operational costs of all governmental departments must also be carefully reviewed to prevent misuse of funds to hire Internet trolls, he added.
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