Two-level local government: Ensuring no budget break

The Ministry of Finance proactively coordinates with localities in operating the two-level government to ensure smooth operation of the new apparatus, without interruption of the budget and public services.

Illustration photo.

After more than a month of officially operating the two-level local government model (from July 1, 2025), many localities have basically stabilized their organizations, but many difficulties and problems still arise.

In that context, the Ministry of Finance has proactively joined hands with localities to ensure the smooth and continuous operation of the new apparatus, without interrupting the budget and public services.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance has ensured that the implementation of the state budget at the commune level after the rearrangement is operated continuously and without interruption.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tan, Deputy Director of the State Budget Department (Ministry of Finance) said that the consistent principle is "not to break the budget" and at the same time maintain the stable revenue sharing mechanism between the provincial and communal budgets as before the arrangement.

The Ministry of Finance has instructed localities to review and submit to the People's Councils a resolution to adjust the revenue and expenditure estimates and the budget allocation plan for 2025; decentralize revenue sources and expenditure tasks between provinces and communes according to the principles of clear authority, compliance with the law and suitability to practice.

Along with that, the Ministry also guides the preparation of the commune budget estimate for 2026 and the 3-year financial-budget plan (2026-2028) according to Circular 56/2025/TT-BTC, ensuring it is methodical and close to reality.

The Department of Finance of provinces and cities is assigned to closely coordinate with the State Treasury to ensure funding for the budgets of communes and wards, especially salary payments, social security regimes and regular operating expenses of the apparatus after the merger.

In case the People's Council and People's Committee have not yet decided on the budget estimate, the Ministry requests temporary budget allocation so as not to disrupt the operations of commune-level authorities.

A major difficulty reported by many localities is the lack of qualified chief accountants to be appointed in newly merged communes, especially in remote areas.

Director of Thanh Hoa Department of Finance Le Quang Hung said that the province is currently facing difficulties in allocating budget estimates to 166 communes and wards due to a lack of chief accountants.

The leader of Lam Dong Department of Finance also made a similar proposal and recommended that the State Treasury provide clear instructions on account opening procedures in case a chief accountant has not been appointed.

In addition, many commune-level budget units have not opened transaction accounts, mainly because there is no resolution on decentralization of revenue sources and expenditure tasks, the commune financial accounting apparatus is not complete, or there are not enough documents and signature stamps.

Illustration photo.

Faced with these difficulties, the Ministry of Finance said it has proposed immediate solutions and may consider easing conditions during the transition period. At the same time, the Ministry of Finance is ready to organize training courses and educate financial staff to meet the requirements of the new tasks.

The Ministry of Finance requests that the Secretaries of Provincial and Municipal Party Committees and Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities pay attention to and direct the Departments of Finance, People's Committees of communes, wards, special zones and relevant agencies to proactively study and promptly update newly issued legal provisions related to two-level local governments; strictly and fully implement legal provisions and instructions of the Ministry of Finance for commune-level professional agencies and Public Administration Service Centers.

At the same time, promptly handle difficulties and problems according to authority and synthesize and send recommendations to the Ministry of Finance for consideration and resolution, ensuring smooth implementation without interruption.

In particular, the Ministry of Finance requested localities to urgently focus all resources to resolve overdue business registration dossiers; reflect recommendations from people and businesses, ensure smooth, continuous and effective implementation of administrative procedures, avoid interruption of production and business activities and affect the legitimate rights and interests of people and businesses.

At the same time, promptly issue, reissue, and exchange documents at the request of organizations, individuals, and enterprises due to changes in administrative boundaries when rearranging administrative units at all levels.

Correct and prevent the recurrence of businesses not being promptly issued business-related documents after changing administrative boundaries.

In the tax field, provide direct guidance to taxpayers; post QR codes to access the electronic tax system; coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to organize training conferences for taxpayers and tax officials.

Local leaders directed the Public Administration Service Center to coordinate with tax authorities and relevant agencies to review the list of administrative procedures, maintain connection to the administrative procedure settlement information system in the area, and ensure that the reception and return of administrative procedure settlement results are smooth, continuous and uninterrupted.

Officials from the Public Administration Service Center guide people to get online queue numbers for land-related records via the iHanoi application.

Regarding the state budget, the Ministry of Finance proposes to promptly submit to the Provincial People's Council for consideration and issuance of a resolution adjusting the revenue and expenditure estimates and the local budget allocation plan for 2025 after the reorganization; a resolution on decentralization of revenue sources and expenditure tasks between the provincial budget and the commune budget. This ensures that the implementation of budget revenue and expenditure tasks is not interrupted.

Regarding the field of public asset management, the Ministry of Finance proposes to review the arrangement, placement, and handling of public assets when arranging administrative units to ensure compliance with regulations and instructions of the Politburo, Government, Prime Minister, and guidance of the Ministry of Finance.

For houses and land facilities that have been arranged as working headquarters but have encountered problems during operation, it is necessary to continue to make reasonable arrangements to ensure working conditions and provide public services. The arrangement, organization and handling of headquarters and public assets of agencies, organizations and units under management also need to be strengthened, and the responsibilities of collectives and individuals who are slow or do not comply with legal regulations need to be handled.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Duc Chi emphasized that the Ministry of Finance will accompany localities, not allowing any problems related to finance, budget, accounting, or public assets to affect the progress and efficiency of the operation of the two-level government model./.

vietnamplus.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/chinh-quyen-dia-phuong-2-cap-bao-dam-khong-de-dut-gay-ngan-sach-post879738.html