Resources directed toward high-impact civic projects and essential priorities
Paju city has drawn up its third supplementary budget for 2026, totaling 2.6085 trillion won — an increase of 135.7 billion won, or 5.5 percent, over the second supplementary budget.
By account type, the general account stands at 2.2 trillion won, up 129.3 billion won (6.2 percent) from the second supplementary budget, while the special account rises 6.4 billion won (1.6 percent) to 406.3 billion won.
The supplementary budget particularly reflects additional and revised notifications for national and provincial subsidy projects, as well as secured revenue including local fiscal transfers, with a focus on advancing key priorities in livelihood stability, public safety and living-environment improvement without disruption.
The city has maintained an expansionary fiscal stance to support livelihoods and future growth while also managing fiscal soundness. In keeping with that approach, this supplementary budget was drawn up with an eye on domestic and external fiscal uncertainties — reviewing the necessity and urgency of projects within available resources and directing funds toward initiatives with high civic impact and essential priorities.
To stimulate the local economy and support small businesses, the city added 6.3 billion won for local currency issuance support and included programs to promote fair-price establishments, traditional markets and neighborhood commercial districts.
For public safety and living-environment improvement, the budget adds 5 billion won for small-stream maintenance and 300 million won to replace aging elevators on pedestrian overpasses. An additional 3.7 billion won in special fiscal grants will fund disaster and safety projects, including 700 million won to install essential safety facilities in the Unjeong underpass and 500 million won to build a small drainage pump station in Baekseok 2-ri.
To expand community infrastructure, the budget adds 3.4 billion won to build an intergenerational community support center, 10.7 billion won for an administrative welfare center in the Unjeong area and 2.1 billion won for a multipurpose indoor gymnasium in Gyoha. The plan also includes 1.5 billion won to develop a park golf course in Jori, 700 million won to build a senior-friendly national sports center in Jeokseong and 500 million won for a child-friendly national sports center in Unjeong.
For future transportation networks and regional infrastructure, the budget allocates 500 million won to establish a rail network response strategy, 1.9 billion won to widen and pave the Chorigo road in Beopwon-eup, 600 million won to widen and pave Local Road 41 (Galhyeon to Beopheung), 800 million won to open the Camp Howze road and 200 million won to ease chronic congestion on the Seonyu section of National Local Road 78.
"We will invest actively in areas where it matters most — people's livelihoods and public safety — while distributing limited resources efficiently through careful prioritization," Mayor Son Bae-chan said. "We will pursue key projects without disruption by streamlining expenditures and managing resources strategically, while maintaining stable fiscal soundness."
The city said it will continue to allocate resources strategically within available means to keep priority projects on track. It also plans to restructure spending by eliminating inefficient and overlapping projects, make strategic use of funds and reserves, and actively pursue external revenue sources including national and provincial subsidies and special fiscal grants.
The third supplementary budget will be finalized on Sept. 18 after review by the Paju City Council. Starting Wednesday, residents can view the budget proposal on the Paju city government website.
pjh@heraldcorp.com
