Bac Kan proactively arranges public assets, preparing for administrative merger.

The old headquarters will be utilized to the fullest extent to avoid wasting state resources.

According to a report by the Provincial People's Committee, Bac Kan currently has 1,361 land and property plots under its management and use, including office buildings, public service facilities, and investment projects that are underway or have received approval. The planned merger with Thai Nguyen province will lead to many changes in organizational structure and the need for office space at all levels, forcing the locality to calculate and propose reasonable relocation plans.

Make the most use of the old office premises.

To date, Bac Kan province has nearly 700 units under its direct management, with a total staff of 13,631 people. After the administrative restructuring, the number of units expected after the merger will be 37 commune-level administrative units (35 communes and 2 wards), requiring at least 37 new office buildings. According to the plan proposed by the province to the central government, some of the new communes will utilize the old offices, while others will reuse the offices of the former district People's Committees, City Party Committees, or departments and agencies that are surplus after the merger. However, many existing commune offices lack the standard area, causing difficulties in ensuring adequate workspace.

The construction of the provincial project management board's headquarters for investment in transportation infrastructure projects has been proposed by Bac Kan province for continued investment, as the central government has not yet issued directives regarding the organizational structure of provincial-level project management boards.

"Streamlining the administrative apparatus – focusing on operational efficiency – avoiding waste" is becoming the guiding principle in Bac Kan's journey to reorganize public assets and infrastructure after the administrative unit merger. This is not just a financial and administrative challenge; it's also a strategic stepping stone for the province to proactively enter a new, more modern and efficient phase of development.

Currently, Bac Kan province manages 696 administrative and public service units, and 1,361 offices, premises, and public works. This large number of units and public assets once served as a foundation for effective administrative management during the local division period, meeting the requirements of each development stage. However, after the merger of administrative units, especially at the commune level, many offices will become redundant, creating significant pressure on management and maintenance, and particularly leading to the potential waste of budget resources if not addressed promptly.

According to statistics, the province has 27 surplus district-level offices and 48 surplus commune-level offices that are no longer suitable for their functions. These figures highlight the urgent need for a scientific and economical reorganization, while maximizing the value of existing assets.

Review carefully to make appropriate arrangements.

In the list of assets to be handled after the merger, several ongoing and completed headquarters investment projects also need to be reviewed to determine the appropriate course of action. Temporarily suspending projects that have not been implemented or are no longer suitable after the merger will not only save budget but also avoid wasting resources, demonstrating the province's proactive adjustment of its public investment strategy.

After review, Bac Kan province has 3 projects (2 office building projects, 1 other project) funded from the provincial budget that are affected by the restructuring and streamlining of administrative units. Of these, 1 project is proposed to continue investment: the office building of the Project Management Board for Investment and Construction of Transportation Projects; 2 projects are proposed to be discontinued: the office building of the Provincial Veterans Association and the Cultural and Sports Center of Bach Thong district.

To address the issue of handling assets after mergers, Bac Kan province has implemented a series of flexible and cost-effective solutions while still ensuring the best possible service for the people and the government. Ms. Hoang Thu Trang, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, stated: “The province is proposing to the Central Government to allow the implementation of a plan whereby surplus commune-level offices can be temporarily handed over to the Land Fund Development Center or local authorities for management, ensuring proper use and preventing deterioration. Two offices in the newly merged communes will be temporarily used. In cases where renovation is not yet possible or space is insufficient, the offices of provincial-level departments, agencies, and public service units will be repurposed as commune-level offices, if suitable, to reduce new investment costs.”

These solutions demonstrate that Bac Kan is not resorting to "mechanical cutting," but rather to a streamlined restructuring strategy coupled with efficient use of public assets.

Beyond just a matter of headquarters or personnel, the reorganization of assets after the merger is also an opportunity for Bac Kan to carry out a strong reform in its organizational structure, aiming to: streamline the apparatus, reduce overlaps, and improve management capacity. This will prevent budget waste, increase the efficiency of public investment, maximize the value of public assets, best serve the people, and prepare for a more modern and sustainable development phase.

With 48 communes needing new headquarters after the merger, Bac Kan is facing an opportunity to reorganize its local administrative network. This will not only help reduce the administrative burden but also lay the groundwork for building a digital government system, applying information technology, and creating a modern government that is closer to the people and serves them better.

Phuong Thao

Source: https://baobackan.vn/bac-kan-chu-dong-sap-xep-tai-san-cong-chuan-bi-cho-sap-nhap-hanh-chinh-post70193.html