No.170 FY2026 Initial Budget

The initial budget for FY2026 was approved and enacted at the first Regular Session of the City Council, so we will provide an overview.

The FY2026 initial budget has been drafted in accordance with the budget formulation policy established in August 2025.

Trends in the National Government and Tokyo Metropolitan Government

The Japanese economy is maintaining a moderate recovery trend, with nominal GDP exceeding 600 trillion yen for the first time in FY2024, and the wage increase rate reaching its highest level in 33 years, showing positive signs. On the other hand, rising prices are suppressing personal consumption, and there are concerns that additional U.S. tariffs could negatively impact the economy.

The government, in the "Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2025," states that internationally, the rise of nationalism and authoritarian states is changing the international order, while domestically, there are numerous challenges such as disaster prevention and mitigation measures against frequent natural disasters, maintenance of aging infrastructure, and establishment of economic security. To build a resilient economic structure, the government and private sector will collaborate to aim for the sustainable growth of Japan's economy and the improvement of citizens' quality of life.

Based on these circumstances, the national government and Tokyo Metropolitan Government formulated the FY2026 budget proposals, both of which set new record highs.

Budget Formulation in Inagi City

In Inagi City, while municipal tax revenue showed steady growth, the impact of rising prices and labor costs resulted in a significant expenditure overrun. The initial requests from each department indicated that total expenditures exceeded total revenues by approximately 5.43 billion yen. Although this amount decreased from about 6.14 billion yen in FY2025, it remained a challenging budget formulation.

In the city,

1. Maintenance of sound finances, realization of the 5th Long-Term Comprehensive Plan, sustainable administrative and financial operations
2. Response to Price Increases and Changes in Social Conditions
3. Disaster prevention and mitigation measures to protect citizens from earthquakes and heavy rain disasters
4. Review of beneficiary burden, securing new financial resources, prioritization and revision of policies

We worked on budget formulation based on the four points.

The General Fund Budget for FY2026 is 47,761 million yen, an increase of 3.7% or 1,708 million yen compared to the previous fiscal year, marking the largest scale for four consecutive years.

On the revenue side, factors such as an increase in the number of taxpayers and salary income leading to a rise in Municipal Resident Tax, as well as an increase in Property Tax due to new houses, resulted in a 3.7% increase in total Municipal Tax, approximately 650 million yen.

In expenditures, personnel expenses increased; assistance expenses increased due to operating consignment fees for private Childcare Centers and private After-School Childcare Programs, as well as disability care benefit costs; material expenses increased due to designated management fees for the municipal library, consignment fees for street tree pruning and grass cutting, and consignment fees for periodic inspections for the long-term durability of bridges; and subsidy expenses increased due to Sewerage Division accounting burdens and subsidies, as well as subsidies for the parent or guardian portion of School Lunch fees.

The main construction projects for this fiscal year include road improvements on Yomiuriland Line Routes 3, 4, and 12; new road construction on Routes 7, 5, and 3; development of the south exit plaza at Keio Yomiuriland Station; Yoshikata Park development; rebuilding of Inagi Dai 3 Elementary School; and installation of air conditioning equipment in special classrooms at junior high schools. The total construction-related expenses, including these projects, amount to approximately 3.22 billion yen.

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

Child Care Support Related

We will subsidize the health checkup costs for postpartum women and one-month-old infants. The "Any Child Enrollment System," piloted in FY2025, will be fully implemented. The After-School Childcare Programs at Inagi Dai 4 Elementary School and Inagi Dai 6 Elementary School will be privatized, and the capacity of the Minamiyama district After-School Childcare Program will be expanded as an emergency measure to address waiting children. The second phase of renovation work on existing parts will be carried out as part of the re-security project at Kippou Park.

Health, Medical Care, and Welfare Related

The city will continue to support the Inagi City Medical Association, which has built a 24-hour home medical care system for Older Adults requiring nursing care, even after the Tokyo Metropolitan Government subsidy was discontinued. A self-check system for mild dementia utilizing ICT will be introduced to promote early detection and maintain and improve functions. The method for stomach cancer screening will be changed from X-ray examination to gastroscopy, and for lung cancer screening, the traditional CT scan will be supplemented with chest X-ray examination, allowing a choice between the two. A group home for Older Adults with dementia will be opened in the Oshitate area. Emergency subsidies will be provided for air conditioner installation costs for Public Assistance households. Counselors at the Development Support Center will be increased. A remote sign language interpretation service using smartphones and other devices will be introduced. In light of the progress in promoting social participation and employment of persons with disabilities, the systems for Disability Welfare Allowance and Special Disease Patient Consolation Money will be reviewed.

Education Related

Shiroyama Elementary School is designated as the "Inagi Science Special School" to enhance science education, and the school's vacant classrooms will be utilized to open the "Nashino Mi Room Branch" to improve the environment for students who do not attend school. Inagi Dai 5 Junior High School will establish the "Inagi Challenge Class (in-school branch classroom for non-attending students)" to support students who do not attend school. At junior high schools, the appointment of club activity instructors and the enhancement of external instructors will be promoted, advancing work style reforms for the School Faculty and Staff. The SHIROYAMA EXPERIENCE STUDY INSTITUTE will be redeveloped as an exchange area for the Central Library, and study spaces will be expanded in five municipal libraries excluding the i Plaza Library. Part of the educational counseling services will be outsourced to strengthen the system in response to the increase in consultation cases and the complexity of content.

Crime Prevention, Disaster Prevention, and Mitigation

We will utilize community radio to strengthen information dissemination during normal times and disasters. A third youth fire brigade will be established to promote disaster awareness from childhood. The ambulance introduced in 2015 will be replaced with a new vehicle equipped with the latest equipment and materials, and the old vehicle will be auctioned off aiming for a high price. The fire emergency communication command system introduced in 2014 will be updated with the latest equipment. A toilet vehicle will be introduced for large-scale disasters.

Digitalization Promotion Related

In collaboration with Hino City and Tama City, we will review business workflows and promote the online processing of administrative procedures. We will establish the Inagi My Number Card Center inside a commercial facility building in front of Inagi Station, offering flexible opening days and hours. Family register certificates will be added to the documents available for convenience store issuance. We will start accepting web applications for account transfer registration for municipal tax and various insurance premiums, add online payment functionality to the bulky waste reception system, and expand services so that residents do not need to visit City Hall.

Regional Public Transportation Related

To improve transfer convenience following route and timetable revisions for route buses and i-Bus, a free shuttle wagon service will be started to operate back and forth between Inagi Station, City Hall, and City Hospital.

55th Anniversary of City Establishment Related

The year 2026 marks the 55th anniversary since Inagi Town became a city in 1971. To commemorate this, the original license plates for motorized bicycles and similar vehicles will be revised, a special performance of the 'Procession' from the Nomaoi Festival, which boasts a thousand-year history in our Friendship City Soma City, will be held, and the Japan Shogi Association-sponsored 'National Shogi Summit' along with the city-hosted 'Inagi Shogi Festival' will be conducted.

In addition to the FY2024 initial budget, as a recent measure against rising prices, the FY2023 General Account Supplementary Budget (No. 4), which was approved by delegated authority on December 26, 2023, has implemented the distribution of "Rice Gift Certificates" worth 440 yen × 7 per person, and the payment of a "Price Rise Support Parenting Allowance" of 20,000 yen per child from 0 to 18 years old.

In addition, with the General Account Supplementary Budget (No. 6) for FY2023 submitted at the first Regular Session of the City Council simultaneously with the FY2024 initial budget, measures such as the issuance of premium vouchers and countermeasures against rising prices are being implemented.