The Executive Yuan plans to instruct ministries to mobilize the NT$71.8 billion (US$2.25 billion) limited budget approved by the Legislative Yuan for advanced spending while opposition lawmakers continue to block the central government’s general budget, sources said.
The Legislative Yuan on March 6 approved the early release of funds for 38 projects under this year’s general budget on their second reading, citing their “urgency and significant impact on public livelihood.”
The 38 projects include subsidies to address the nation's low birthrate, funding for the TPass transport program, and flood control and water management initiatives.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
High-level executive officials plan to allow ministries to mobilize funds in advance, people familiar with the matter said.
The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics has submitted administrative documents to the Executive Yuan for approval, they said.
Once Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) confirms and signs the proposal, formal instructions would be issued to all departments, with the 38 projects expected to launch as early as this month, sources said.
Cho today said that the legality of a budget that has not passed a third reading is highly questionable.
“If these NT$71.8 billion are spent, can we be certain there would be no further changes? There is no precedent for this, and it would be inappropriate to set one now,” Cho said.
The general budget proposed by the Executive Yuan is a complete plan, and includes the administrative plans of all government agencies for the entire year, but the NT$71.8 billion only constitutes 2 percent of it, he said.
If the nation executes only 2 percent of its planned projects, while the rest are partially implemented based on old plans, it would be “undoubtedly detrimental to national development,” Cho said.
As the public expects welfare policies that require comprehensive implementation by the government, the proper course of action is for the Legislative Yuan to follow legal procedures and pass the entire NT$3.35 trillion general budget as quickly as possible, he said.
With local elections just months away, the executive team could face immense political pressure during campaign debates if the 38 projects are not implemented, sources said.
The Executive Yuan previously criticized the proposal from opposition parties to selectively release funding for new projects, saying it was “unprecedented” and that temporary authorization for such spending would be in breach of the Constitution and the Budget Act (預算法).
The alleged illegality refers to Article 51 of the act, which mandates that the general budget be passed and promulgated by the Legislative Yuan at least one month before the start of the fiscal year, a source familiar with the matter said.
The Constitution also requires that all budget deliberations pass a third reading, they said.
However, Article 54 of the act stipulates that while spending for new projects must generally wait until the annual budget review is complete, an exception is made for those “approved by the Legislative Yuan,” the source said.
Under the act, funds can be executed if prior legislative consent has been received, even if the full budget is pending review, the National Audit Office said.
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