No.6 Initial Budget for Fiscal Year 2012

(Inagi Newsletter April 15, 2012 issue)

In the Regular Session of the Inagi City Council held in March 2012, the initial budget for the new fiscal year concerning the General Fund and six Special Accounts, including the National Health Insurance Program, was approved and has been in effect since April 1, 2012.
The initial budget for fiscal year 2011 was a skeletal budget excluding policy-related expenses, as the former mayor was scheduled to retire. Therefore, the supplementary budget presented in the June 2012 council session after my appointment became the effective initial budget. This time, although it is a regular budget formulation, it is my first initial budget, and I decided to focus on the following four points.
First, maintaining sound finances and promoting key projects of the Long-Term Comprehensive Plan. Second, supporting recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake and disaster prevention measures in Inagi City. Third, continuing the emergency economic measures that were anticipated to last for three years until fiscal year 2011. Fourth, reviewing all administrative projects without exception and controlling ongoing expenses.
As a result, the scale of the General Fund for fiscal year 2012 is 32.4 billion yen. Compared to the supplementary budget after June 2011 (effective initial budget), this represents a 1.3% increase; however, since this budget includes approximately 2.2 billion yen for the land purchase of the (tentative name) Minamiyama Elementary School, excluding this special factor results in a 5.6% decrease.
Due to the impact of emergency economic measures after the Lehman Shock and the increase in social security expenses, the budget scale has been expanding year by year, but moving forward, we will pay more attention to fiscal discipline than ever before.
One particular focus of this budget is the preparation expenses for the introduction of the new public accounting system. To build a sustainable and resilient financial foundation for the future, it is necessary to prepare financial documents based on the accrual basis and double-entry bookkeeping concepts adopted by private enterprises and to share a cost-conscious mindset.
Additionally, we have placed emphasis on the Health Plaza. The long-awaited warm water pool and health promotion facilities that the citizens have been looking forward to will finally open on May 28, 2012. Let’s encourage many customers to use it and create a healthy town filled with smiles.