Changhua County reduces debt by over 20 billion NT dollars; considers elderly health insurance subsidies

Changhua County has significantly improved its financial standing, with the county government announcing a reduction in long-term debt exceeding 20 billion New Taiwan dollars over the past eight years. This achievement reflects a commitment to fiscal discipline and cost-saving measures.

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The county government has reduced debt by over 20 billion NT dollars in the past eight years, achieving success in increasing revenue and reducing expenditure, while simultaneously advancing multiple elderly welfare programs. Whether to expand health insurance subsidies still requires careful consideration of financial resources.

County Councilor Lai Ching-mei acknowledged the government's fiscal prudence but urged for tangible benefits for residents. She proposed that the county allocate some of the savings towards subsidizing health insurance premiums for senior citizens, a move she believes would directly benefit the community and make the financial improvements felt by the public.

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Since the end of 2018, the county has cumulatively reduced debt by over 20 billion NT dollars. Even including expanded centralized payment dispatch funds, the debt reduction reaches 19.14 billion NT dollars. These are the results of the county government team implementing financial discipline and increasing revenue while reducing expenditure.

However, the county's Department of Finance cautioned that despite the debt reduction, the county faces a projected budget deficit of over 5.1 billion NT dollars for 2026. They emphasized that the debt reduction aims to increase financial flexibility for future construction and social welfare projects, rather than simply accumulating savings. Therefore, any expansion of elderly benefits, such as health insurance subsidies, requires careful consideration of the overall financial situation and existing expenditures.

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Debt reduction is not about saving money but about reducing the burden of debt and interest expenses, allowing the county government more financial flexibility for future investments in construction and social welfare.