Chaturon calls for end to special grants for local authorities

Matichon•Politics•10d ago

Reader Briefing

MP Chaturon Chaisang proposed a 5% budget cut for local administrative organizations to push for a systemic overhaul of the decentralization and grant allocation process.

•Chaturon Chaisang proposed reducing the 211 billion baht budget for local administrative organizations by 5% during a parliamentary meeting on September 10.
•Chaturon Chaisang argued that current local budget systems are mismatched and lack independence in decision-making.
•The proposal suggests converting special grants into general grants based on population and necessary missions.
•The proposal aims to increase direct local revenue and redefine roles between local organizations and regional administration.

Overview

•On September 10, Chaturon Chaisang debated Section 33 regarding the budget for local administrative organizations during the 2nd and 3rd readings of the Budget Act for the 2027 fiscal year.
•Chaturon Chaisang noted that local revenue is currently 29.35% of government revenue, falling short of the 35% target set by law.
•Chaturon Chaisang stated that local authorities lack decision-making power over 34 mission-based grant items because they must follow government-defined lists.
•Under the Budgetary Procedure Act 2018, Provincial Administrative Organizations and Municipalities must request budgets directly from the Budget Bureau.
•Chaturon Chaisang asserted that the current system leads to patronage and kickbacks and makes the House of Representatives perform duties outside its scope by overseeing local projects.
•Chaturon Chaisang proposed four solutions: minimizing direct requests to the Budget Bureau, converting special grants to general grants, reforming the revenue allocation system, and redistributing duties between local and regional administration.
•Chaturon Chaisang proposed a 5% budget cut for local administrative organizations to force a serious reform of the decentralization and grant allocation system.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Chaturon Chaisang

"The Budget Bureau's discretion is still used, and the House cannot oversee it; if it tries to oversee, it does not know what the local authorities need."

ยังใช้ดุลพินิจของสำนักงบประมาณ แล้วสภาก็ไม่สามารถดูแลได้ ไปดูแลก็ไม่รู้เรื่องว่าท้องถิ่นเขาต้องการอะไร

Key Entities

Person

Chaturon Chaisang(จาตุรนต์ ฉายแสง)ℹ️

A party-list MP from the Pheu Thai Party who proposed budget cuts and reforms for local administration.

Organization

Pheu Thai Party(พรรคเพื่อไทย)ℹ️

The political party to which Chaturon Chaisang belongs.

House of Representatives(สภาผู้แทนราษฎร)ℹ️

The legislative body where the budget debate took place.

Local Administrative Organizations(องค์กรปกครองส่วนท้องถิ่น)

The entities whose budget of 211 billion baht was the subject of Chaturon Chaisang's proposal.

Budget Bureau(สำนักงบประมาณ)

The agency that uses discretion in approving budget requests from local authorities.

Department of Local Administration(กรมส่งเสริมการปกครองท้องถิ่น)

The former manager of special grants before the Budgetary Procedure Act 2018.

Provincial Administrative Organizations(อบจ.)

Local government bodies that now propose budgets directly to the Budget Bureau.

Municipalities(เทศบาล)ℹ️

Local government bodies that propose budgets directly to the Budget Bureau.

Sub-district Administrative Organizations(อบต.)

Local government bodies that have not yet entered the direct budget request system.

Decentralization Committee(คณะกรรมการกระจายอำนาจ)

The committee that approved the 34 mission-based grant items.

Law

Budget Act for the 2027 Fiscal Year(พ.ร.บ.งบประมาณรายจ่ายประจำปีงบประมาณ พ.ศ. 2570)

The legislation under consideration by the House of Representatives.

Budgetary Procedure Act 2018(พ.ร.บ.วิธีการงบประมาณ พ.ศ. 2561)

The law that established 'budget receiving units' for local authorities.