Changes to Private Childcare Subsidies in Taipei? 柯文哲調高私幼補助沒編預算 蔣萬安買單?

Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, announced that he would increase subsidies for children's day centers before leaving office, which was expected to start after the Lunar New Year. However, it is now reported that it was not budgeted and the new city government team may have to foot the bill. 

As the Lunar New Year is approaching, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an inspected the public space renovation of the city hall and interacted cordially with the workers. However, the media's attention was focused on the increase of subsidies for children's private care, which may not take place. 

Chiang Wan-an, Taipei Mayor: “We are actively coordinating with the central government. We will implement relevant subsidy matters as soon as possible. So parents and citizens please rest assured. (Will you use the method of supplementary budget?) We are still planning it and it will be implemented as soon as possible. ”

Former mayor Ko Wen-je announced before leaving office that he would increase the subsidy for children's private care from NT$13,660 to NT$25,880. Chiang also mentioned raising the subsidy during the election campaign. Now the school semester is almost here, but the budget has not yet been settled.

Wu Pei-i, Taipei City Councilor: “Mayor Chiang took office for one and a half months and his first accomplishment is skipping on increasing the subsidy for children's private care. We are quite skeptical about why the same policy cannot be implemented under Mayor Chiang. He's still dragging on the matter and blaming the central government. ”

Chen Chih-han, Ko Wen-je's Assistant: “The 2023 Annual Budget was already submitted for approval in 2022. The Education Department originally planned to use the supplementary budget as a consideration for funding this. So there's no so-called no budgeting. ”

Chen Su-hui, Deputy Director, Taipei Education Dept.: “The central government has fiscal discipline issues. So it doesn't want counties and cities to increase tuition subsidies for private childcare centers. If Taipei City increases subsidies for private childcare centers, subsidies from the central government to local preschool education will be reduced. We are still actively coordinating with the central government.”

The Education Department stated that the operating costs of private childcare centers in Taipei are higher than in other counties and cities. Tuition and miscellaneous fees are also relatively high. Therefore, they hope to increase the subsidy for private childcare centers. They need to negotiate with the central government because it involves financial discipline. If the central government agrees, the plan will be submitted to the city council in the form of additional and subtractive budgets. 

年節將近，台北市長蔣萬安視察市府的公共空間改造，也和業者們親切互動，不過媒體關注焦點，放在「私幼補助」提高可能會跳票。

台北市長蔣萬安表示：「我們也正積極跟中央在協調，相關補助事宜，我們會盡快落實，所以也請家長、市民朋友放心。（所以會用追加預算的方式嗎？）這個我們都正在進行規劃，所以一定會盡快來落實。」

由於前市長柯文哲在卸任之前宣布要調高私幼補助，從1萬3660元提高到2萬5880元，而蔣萬安在競選時期，也曾經提過要調高私幼補助，因此方向一致，但現在新學期快要到了，預算卻還沒有著落。

台北市議員吳沛憶指出：「蔣萬安市長上任1個半月，交出來的第一張成績單，就是私幼補助要來跳票，所以我們相當質疑，同樣的政策規劃，為什麼到蔣市長的手上就沒有辦法來執行。直到現在，還在牽拖中央，怪給中央政府。」

柯文哲幕僚、北市府前發言人陳智菡說道：「在112年的年度預算，早就在111年就已經送審完畢了，所以教育局原本就是打算用追加預算的方式送到議會來審理，並不是所謂的沒有編列預算。」

台北市教育局副局長陳素慧提及：「中央有財政紀律問題，不希望就是各縣市在推動公共化的時候（提高）私幼的學費補助，如果台北市提高對私幼的補助，中央給地方的學前教育的補助會降低，還在跟中央積極協調。」

教育局表示，台北的私幼經營成本，比其他縣市沉重，學雜費也比較高，因此希望提高私幼補助，但因為涉及財政紀律，因此還要再和中央協商，如果中央同意，規劃會以追加減預算模式，向議會爭取。