It has been more than four months since the Executive Yuan submitted this year’s general budget to the legislature and it has yet to be reviewed, he said. The blockage of the budget would affect a total of NT$299.2 billion (US$9.47 billion) in budget allocations and disrupt fiscal operations in six cities and counties — Tainan and Changhua, Chiayi, Lienchiang (Matsu), Penghu and Pingtung counties — which could face fiscal management difficulties and be forced to resort to borrowing, Cho said. The central government had allocated NT$32.1 billion of this year’s general budget to ensure that shared tax revenues and subsidies would be no less than last year, he said. The Cabinet discussed and approved a report by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics detailing the effects of the failure of legislators to review the budget within the statutory time limit. The general budget is the foundation of democratic governance and essential to meeting public needs, Cho said, urging the legislature to expedite its review.

Source: Taipei Times January 08, 2026 09:12 UTC