Joint efforts needed to stop cuts in state aid to local governments -- Akahata editorial, March 4 (excerpts)

All local governments in Japan are now screaming at the Koizumi government's cold-blooded cuts in funding for municipalities.

Many have been obliged to rewrite their budgets, reach into their savings, borrow more money, or reduce wages for their employees.

The Koizumi Cabinet is planning to shift the burden of state debts onto local governments next year in the form of further cuts in subsidies to municipalities that used to make up for shortfalls in local tax revenues and cuts in government burdens for local public welfare services.

These cutbacks will force local governments to endure more difficulties in compiling their budgets and force them to scale back public services in such fields as social welfare, education, and living conditions.

Some municipalities have already decided to increase fees for welfare services, including child-care.

Expressing their concern over the sizable cuts in government subsidies and calling for sources of revenue to be ensured, associations of prefectural governors, city mayors, and town and village heads respectively requested that the central government disperse the necessary funds. Many local assemblies are also moving forward to adopt resolutions in opposition to further cuts in government assistance.

The need now is for us to increase residents' cooperation in the effort to put an end to drastic cutbacks in state subsidies and urge the national government to ensure that financial sources needed to improve public welfare services are available.

It is increasingly important to develop efforts with people calling for their living conditions and rights to be defended and welfare services to be improved as well as the promotion of local economies. (end)