Nine Problems in Reviewing and Approving the Budgets of Local People's Congresses

• Author: Gao Yunhan

1. The local People’s Congresses have been passive in approving budget plans. The financial department of the upper-level government sets revenue tasks and the local government complies with revenue targets. Local people’s congresses have to approve the budget plan as determined by the upper level government. There are often inconsistencies between budget plans and actual revenues because local People’s Congresses and governments have no autonomy in forecasting revenues.

2. Budget draft delays by upper level governments impact local People’s Congresses’ timely approval of budgetary revenue plans. Every year, upper level governments are unable to issue budgetary revenue plans in timely, causing local governments...