An Analysis of Councilors'' Suggestive Fund in Township of Taipei County－Taking Shulin Township as Example

• Main Authors: WEN-YEN CHANG, 張文彥
• Other Authors: Chao-Chien Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2006
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/zm8ekf

碩士 === 銘傳大學 === 公共事務學系碩士在職專班 === 94 === The “Councilors Suggestive Fund” is listed under the annual budget approved by every township office. The main purpose of the fund is for the elected councilors to carry out their political plans. However, because this type of fund does not require a clear specification of its usage when defined, it is frequently misused by the councilors to ingratiate themselves with their voters. As a result, the Councilors Suggestive Fund is often viewed as an important resource for keeping the harmony between the office and council, avoiding unnecessary troubles when introducing a new policy, and rewarding the councilors’ political supporters. However, the Councilors Suggestive Fund requires careful and thorough budgeting based on the financial resources. Inadequate or over budgeting could lead to serious resources dissipation and redundant allocations. A reckless budgeting of the fund not only deviates it from its purpose, but it also loses social justice by driving the fund into the pockets of certain groups and privatizing public interests. The research show that the main factors that lead to the budgeting of the Councilors Suggestive Fund include maintaining the harmony between office and council, self-profiting by the councilors, and the realization of political promises. However, the spending of the fund is affected by human factors which often results in unjust exchange of profits and misbalance between the office and councils. Therefore this paper suggests a clear and transparent legislation to involve the citizens in regulating and monitoring the budgeting of the fund, in order to strike down pork-barrel legislation and the carving up of public profits by the councilors.