TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Fifteen local government leaders launched a coordinated challenge Wednesday (Sept. 10) against Taiwan's central government, demanding immediate allocation of NT$34.55 billion (around US$1.15 billion) in undistributed tax revenues. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) spearheaded the coalition at a press conference highlighting funding disputes. The controversy stems from the revised Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財劃法), which increased funding by over NT$400 billion (around US$13.3 billion) but created distribution discrepancies.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) sharply criticized the central government's economic forecasting failures despite collecting billions in excess taxes. The mayor accused authorities of creating annual debts and unrealistic special budgets through poor economic trend predictions. The coalition's joint statement emphasized urgent needs for local government fiscal autonomy, advocating for complete and fair distribution of both general and earmarked grants.
The coalition statement demanded the central government restore transparent, fair, and open formula-based distribution for general grants instead of centrally dictated application systems. Leaders called for prompt verification and supplementation of approved grants to prevent disruptions in local governance initiatives. Chiang specifically urged President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), Taiwan's cabinet head, to visit local areas and understand livelihood hardships while securing reasonable budgets. ◼