Ensuring the financial "lifeline" for the system.

Implementing a two-tiered local government model, our province has reduced the number of communes, wards, and towns from 204 to 75. At the provincial level, the number of departments and agencies has decreased from 19 to 14; the number of specialized divisions within departments has decreased from 114 to 97; and the number of public service units has decreased from 109 to 100. To ensure the smooth operation of the new system, the Department of Finance has proactively coordinated and advised on the strict and economical management of budget resources and public assets, preventing losses.

The Department of Finance is implementing its tasks for the second quarter of 2026.

Mr. Nguyen Van Phong, Deputy Director of the Department of Finance, stated: The Department of Finance has proactively advised the province to promptly issue regulations on the decentralization of revenue sources, expenditure tasks, revenue sharing ratios between budget levels, and principles, criteria, and norms for allocating recurrent expenditure budgets, ensuring compliance with the State Budget Law and practical realities. As a result, financial and budgetary work has achieved positive results, with budget revenue in the province reaching 5,673 billion VND in 2025, equivalent to 126% of the budget allocated by the Provincial People's Council.

Specifically, from the beginning of the year to date, estimated budget revenue in the province reached 2,268 billion VND, equivalent to 44.9% of the provincial People's Council's budget estimate; estimated local budget expenditure reached 10,310 billion VND, equivalent to 53.8% of the provincial People's Council's budget estimate. The secured financial resources have fully met the funding requirements for organizing Party congresses at all levels, elections of National Assembly and People's Council representatives at all levels; payment of benefits when restructuring the political system according to Government Decrees No. 178 and No. 67; and simultaneously ensured the fulfillment of the province's socio-economic development, national defense and security, and foreign affairs tasks.

Furthermore, reducing administrative layers means dealing with a large volume of surplus public assets. The Department of Finance has advised the Provincial People's Committee to approve a plan for rearranging and assigning office space to the newly established commune-level People's Committees. To date, all 75 new communes and wards have received assets and assigned staff to work at a single main office. Some areas have also flexibly arranged additional offices for receiving citizens and handling administrative procedures so that people do not have to travel far. Regarding the 114 surplus land and buildings, the Department of Finance has advised the province to direct their handling according to the principle: "No vacant land, no misuse, and no deterioration of assets." Simultaneously, the province has allocated funds to purchase information technology equipment for all 75 communes and wards; and transferred vehicles to communes in mountainous and border areas, ensuring a minimum of one vehicle per commune. In 2026, it is expected that 55 new cars will be purchased, ensuring the target of 2 cars per commune.

Chiềng Sinh Ward was established by merging the former Chiềng Sinh Ward and Chiềng Ngần Commune. With a large geographical area, the workload and personnel pressure after the merger are significant. Mr. Nguyễn Thế Phương, Secretary of the Ward Party Committee, reported: The ward consistently follows the guidance of the Finance Department to effectively manage and utilize the budget and facilities. The ward has developed a plan and completed the handover of all 14 surplus houses and land plots to relevant units as per regulations, and currently has no outstanding assets.

Chiềng Hoa commune was formed by merging three former communes: Chiềng Hoa, Chiềng Công, and Chiềng Ân. Mr. Vũ Văn Suấn, Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, shared: "The locality strictly adheres to the principle of managing public assets. The former Chiềng Công headquarters has been temporarily handed over to Chiềng Công Kindergarten. The former Chiềng Ân headquarters has been temporarily handed over to the Commune Military Command for management and use. This flexible approach helps to preserve facilities well, save money, and avoid waste."

Comrade Nguyen Minh Tien, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, affirmed: The Department of Finance has effectively fulfilled its advisory role in ensuring the smooth flow of the budget, maintaining the stable operation of the administrative apparatus since its establishment; it has been decisive and flexible in advising on solutions for handling surplus public assets. Timely decisions on decentralizing revenue sources and expenditure tasks, as well as the spirit of "no gaps, no waste" in land and housing management, have helped solve the difficult problem of infrastructure. This is the driving force for the two levels of provincial government to become more streamlined, efficient, and to improve the effectiveness of management and service to the people even better.

In the coming period, the Son La Finance Department will focus on restructuring recurrent expenditures; advising on new budget allocation norms to be applied from 2027 to cut unnecessary costs and allocate resources for development investment and office building repairs. At the same time, it will promote the application of digital technology in accounting and settlement of the State budget and advise on the thorough decentralization of procurement authority to increase the proactive role of units. By tightening control over surplus assets and optimizing public resources, the Finance Department is determined to operate a transparent and efficient system, maintaining its role as the "lifeline" for a streamlined and effective government apparatus.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/xa-hoi/bao-dam-mach-mau-tai-chinh-cho-bo-may-1MseOX1vR.html