Andong City, 85 Billion KRW 2nd Supplementary Budget... Total Budget 1.41 Trillion KRW 'Record High'

Resolving Key Issues: Flood Recovery, Large Wildfire Aftercare, and COVID-19 Response

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Andong City in Gyeongbuk announced on the 27th that it has prepared a second supplementary budget plan worth 85 billion KRW and submitted it to the Andong City Council to respond to disasters such as the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

As a result, the total budget size has grown to a record high of 1.41 trillion KRW. This supplementary budget focuses on resolving current issues such as recovery of flood damage caused by the unprecedented longest rainy season, restoration of damage from the large-scale wildfire in April, and ongoing COVID-19 response.

For emergency flood recovery due to heavy rains in July and August, a total of 5.1 billion KRW was allocated, including 1.9 billion KRW for recovery of farm roads, streams, and drainage channels, 1.1 billion KRW for road and bridge flood recovery, and 900 million KRW for river flood recovery.

Additionally, to restore the damage from the large wildfire that deeply affected citizens in April, a total of 15.4 billion KRW was allocated, including 9.5 billion KRW for emergency logging projects in the affected areas, 5 billion KRW for removal of damaged trees, and 900 million KRW for emergency restoration projects. To overcome the direct and indirect crises caused by COVID-19 through rapid financial investment, 62 billion KRW, which is 60.7% of the general account increase (102 billion KRW), was reflected as a COVID-19 response budget.

The budget also includes 56 billion KRW for direct support such as disaster emergency living expenses used timely before the budget was established during the major outbreak in the first half of the year, support for small business owners, and job creation projects.

Furthermore, for proactive ongoing COVID-19 response, an additional budget was allocated: 600 million KRW for influenza medicine purchase, 300 million KRW for quarantine supplies support for senior welfare facilities and vulnerable groups, 100 million KRW for purchasing quarantine-related equipment such as thermal cameras for cultural facilities, and 4.9 billion KRW for disaster and emergency contingency funds to respond swiftly to unforeseen situations.

To alleviate the hardships of farmers suffering from abnormal climate, a total of 4.2 billion KRW related to agriculture and livestock was also reflected, including 1.7 billion KRW for cold damage disaster relief funds and 200 million KRW for capturing harmful wild animals and damage compensation. For future new industries, 100 million KRW was invested in flexible printed electronics technology development projects and 100 million KRW in maker space establishment and operation projects, totaling 300 million KRW.

In addition, expenditure restructuring worth 24 billion KRW was carried out mainly on budgets that could not be executed, such as event-related projects. Securing available resources through this restructuring allowed replacement with budgets that can be executed focusing on current issues, such as 5 billion KRW for revitalizing sports, culture, and tourism, 2.2 billion KRW for urban planning road development projects, 1.2 billion KRW for resident wish projects, and 600 million KRW for senior centers repair.

The scale of expenditure budgets by major sectors also increased overall: ▲430 billion KRW for general public administration ▲13.8 billion KRW for social welfare ▲700 million KRW for health ▲22.3 billion KRW for agriculture, forestry, marine, and fisheries ▲2.5 billion KRW for transportation and logistics ▲9.6 billion KRW for land and regional development.

Mayor Kwon Young-se of Andong said, "This supplementary budget was prepared with the highest priority on creating an environment where citizens can live more safely and comfortably despite disasters such as COVID-19 and floods," adding, "We plan to promptly proceed with execution procedures as soon as the budget is confirmed and actively strive to revive the depressed local economy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.