No.124 Initial Budget for Fiscal Year 2022

In the budget formulation for the fiscal year 2021, there were concerns that the impact of COVID-19 would cause the economy to stagnate to the level of the Lehman Shock, leading to a decline in Municipal Tax revenue. The city declared a "Fiscal Crisis Alert State" and adopted a contractionary budget, taking measures to reduce the salaries of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Education Director for one year.
However, the income level of citizens did not decline as much as expected, and fortunately, the impact has been minor. In this situation, the financial crisis alert has been lifted, but since the COVID-19 infection has not subsided, we will continue to manage our finances with a sense of tension.

In Fiscal Year 2022, we decided to forgo the 5% negative sealing on discretionary expenses implemented last year and carried out budget formulation based on the following three points.
First, to protect the lives and livelihoods of citizens from COVID-19, and to address administrative issues with a view towards living with COVID-19 and post-COVID-19. Second, to implement sustainable financial and administrative operations aimed at realizing the future city vision set forth in the basic concept of the Fifth Long-Term Comprehensive Plan of Inagi City. Third, to prioritize the safety of citizens by working on disaster prevention and mitigation measures.

The budget was approved at the first Regular Session of the city council held in March, so I will provide an overview.
The amount of the General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2022 is 36.06 billion yen, making it the third largest budget in the past, with an increase of 1.3% or 4.58 billion yen compared to the previous fiscal year.
Municipal Tax, which accounts for 44.6% of revenue, increased by 7.4% due to the increase in the number of taxpayers and newly constructed houses, exceeding a total of 16 billion yen. The local allocation tax increased by 17%, approximately 127 million yen, as part of the calculation unit is based on the figures from the 2020 national census. As a result, the total general revenue increased by 7.3%, approximately 1.362 billion yen.
In terms of expenditures, the increase in assistance expenses such as benefits for children with disabilities, operational委託 fees for private childcare centers, Public Assistance costs, disability care benefits, and operational委託 fees for private After-School Childcare Programs, as well as property expenses related to COVID-19 vaccination, and personnel expenses for re-employed staff and annual contract staff, exceeds the reductions in transfers to the Land Readjustment Project Special Account, various subsidies, and ordinary construction project costs, resulting in an overall increase.
This year's main construction projects include improvements to the Yomiuri Land Line No. 3, 4, and 12, replacement work for the Oshitatebori drainage pump station discharge valve, and renovations to the air conditioning system at the Shiroyama Cultural Center. The related expenses total approximately 780 million yen. However, due to the absence of large-scale construction projects, the investment expenses remain low, continuing from last year, and the municipal bonds (debt) as a funding source have also been significantly reduced.

Next, we will introduce the distinctive budgets for each policy issue.

Digitalization Promotion Related
We will hold a smartphone class for citizens to learn basic smartphone operations and administrative procedures. In the processing of applications from citizens, we will introduce AI, OCR, and RPA technologies to aim for automation and efficiency. We will lend tablet devices to the members of the Board of Education and the Agricultural Committee, preparing for the paperless operation of tasks and the implementation of web meetings.

Child Care Support Related
As an emergency measure in response to the increased demand for the After-School Childcare Program, we will expand the capacity at seven locations and privatize the After-School Childcare Program at Koyodai Elementary School to meet the diverse needs of users. We will also begin the design for an expansion project to increase the capacity of the After-School Childcare Program at Minamiyama Elementary School. Regarding Childcare Centers, we will revise the childcare system to accommodate daily calculations of fees in the event of closures due to infectious diseases, and we will subsidize expenses for placing nurses and other staff at facilities that accept Infants and Young Children requiring medical care.

Older Adults Support Related
We will trial a loan program for IoT light bulbs that notify the status of lighting and extinguishing via human sensors, as well as monitoring sensors that utilize internet connections, to supplement the care of older adults living at home. The Inagi City Senior Welfare Plan and the Inagi City Long-Term Care Insurance Business Plan (9th term), which have a planning period from fiscal year 6 to 8, will be developed integrally during fiscal years 4 and 5.

Disability Support Related
In response to the increase in consultation cases, we will design renovation work for the old Fourth Nursery School to establish a facility that also has the functions of a Child Development Support Center, where developmental support activities will be conducted. We will also consider inviting a facility for children with severe physical and intellectual disabilities to utilize the available space in this facility.

Welfare Consultation and Economic Support
We will maintain the increased staffing system for the welfare and living consultation desk, and implement employment preparation support projects and household budget improvement support projects in conjunction with the self-reliance consultation support project.

Education Related
While maintaining the framework of the community education council, which is a pioneering initiative unique to the city, we will establish a new school management council and transition all elementary and junior high schools to community schools. We will utilize external personnel with advanced expertise in physical education and foreign language activities at elementary schools. In response to the increase in the number of students, we will carry out renovation work to repurpose multipurpose rooms into regular classrooms at Inagi Dai 4 Elementary School, Hirao Elementary School, and Minamiyama Elementary School, and design expansion work for Minamiyama Elementary School. For Inagi Dai 2 Junior High School, we will design renovation work for rooftop waterproofing and exterior walls due to the aging of the school building. Regarding the joint school lunch kitchen, we will acquire land for the second phase of the new kitchen construction and organize the site for effective use of the old kitchen's location.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
To prevent road subsidence, we will conduct cavity investigations beneath the roads, replace the discharge valves at the Oshitate Drainage Pump Station to prepare for internal water flooding, and deploy water disaster prevention vehicles (trucks with cranes).

COVID-19 Measures Related
We will subsidize the cost of purchasing ingredients to support local restaurants that use locally produced agricultural products. To revitalize the local economy, we will issue digital gift certificates in conjunction with paper gift certificates. We will provide business continuity support funds (Phase 4) to local business operators experiencing a decline in sales. We will distribute COVID-19 antigen test kits to kindergartens, nursery schools, elementary and junior high schools, after-school childcare programs, and after-school children's programs. To support local public transportation operators facing deteriorating business conditions due to a decrease in users, we will update two iBus vehicles.

Creation of Vibrancy Related
We will install a tourist information sign at the official starting point of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycling road race, create a cycling map, and produce a costume of the original character. We will subsidize part of the expenses for the visit to our overseas Sister City, Foster City, and install signposts to Sister Cities and Friendship Cities within the City Hall premises.

This year marks the third year of our response to COVID-19, and we will continue to implement measures such as the third round of vaccinations for those aged 12 and older, and vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11. Let us work together to overcome this infectious disease.