"Okay."

This kind of thing doesn't require a reminder from Song Guanchao.

The two most important departments in the Finance Bureau are the Budget Division and the Treasury Division.

The Budget Division controls expenditures, and the Treasury Division handles revenue.

The former is overseen by Deputy Director Ren Bin, and the latter by Deputy Director Xu Jia.

Having just taken office, he needs to understand the specifics of revenue and expenditure.

After all, from now on, any approval and disbursement involving funds from the Finance Bureau that are signed by him—if any issues arise—they will ultimately fall under his responsibility as the director.

In today's meeting, he emphasized that any future financial approvals and disbursements must undergo collective decision-making.

When Bao Jianhua was still in office, this part of the authority was delegated to Ren Bin.

For some particularly small fund expenditures, Ren Bin's direct involvement wasn't even necessary; department chiefs under him could sign directly.

But this part of the authority was taken back by Gao Liangwei during today's meeting.

It's important to know that the biggest power of the Finance Bureau comes from "approving funds."

And now that Gao Liangwei has taken back the power to approve funds, under normal circumstances, these deputy directors would not agree to it.

If they disagree, even words spoken by Director Gao Liangwei might not hold sway.

So, before today's meeting, Gao Liangwei was prepared for a potential clash with Ren Bin and Xu Jia, the deputy directors.

But to his surprise, the deputy directors agreed directly.

Regarding his apparent power grab, the deputy directors showed no resistance.

The process was smooth to the point of incredulity for him.

Gao Liangwei picked up the phone and called Ren Bin: "Director Ren, please organize all current budget projects in the bureau for me."

Ren Bin replied, "Director Gao, this will take some time."

"Why, is there a problem?"

"To be honest, the fiscal budget projects in the bureau have always been handled by Director Bao. Before Director Bao's early retirement, the latest budget projects were just submitted to the City Government. All the detailed materials are with the City Government. If you want them, you'll need to wait for the City Government's approval or go directly to Mayor Zheng."

"Okay, I got it."

Putting down the phone, Gao Liangwei relayed the information verbatim to Song Guanchao.

Upon hearing this, Song Guanchao knew that things were not looking good.

Before Bao Jianhua's early retirement, he likely already planned out all the money in the Finance Bureau.

Unsurprisingly, the budget projects submitted to the City Government should involve the Fengmen Building urban renewal.

This means that before Bao Jianhua's early retirement, it was already decided how this money would be spent.

Song Guanchao said, "Let the Treasury Division send over the financial revenue reports."

"Okay."

Gao Liangwei called Xu Jia.

"Director Xu, please organize the fiscal revenue and expenditure for the first three quarters of this year and send it to me."

"Okay, but I'm out right now, so I'll have to wait until I get back."

"When are you coming back?"

"I'm afraid I won't make it back this afternoon, maybe tomorrow."

"Alright..."

Just as Gao Liangwei was about to hang up, Song Guanchao suddenly reached out: "Give me the phone."

Startled, Gao Liangwei handed the phone to him.

Taking the phone, Song Guanchao said, "Director Xu, hello, this is Song Guanchao."

"Secretary Song?"

"Director Xu, are you outside?"

"Yes, I need to handle..."

"Did you hear that Director Ding Lingyan is under investigation?"

"...I heard."

"Director Xu, do you want to know what issues Director Ding has confessed to?"

Xu Jia felt somewhat anxious and didn't know how to respond.

Song Guanchao asked, "Can you deliver the materials Director Gao needs within half an hour? No problem?"

Silently annoyed, Xu Jia knew that Song Guanchao was using Ding Lingyan to threaten her.

"No problem."

Song Guanchao hung up the phone and returned it to him.

Gao Liangwei was filled with confusion.

It was only then that he somewhat belatedly sensed some anomalies.

Secretary Song's unexpected visit to obtain specific financial information from the Finance Bureau likely had ulterior motives.

Could it be that there was a problem in the Finance Bureau?

About twenty minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

"Please come in."

A middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties entered with a stack of documents—it was Xu Jia.

"Director Gao, here are the materials you requested."

Xu Jia placed the documents down, smiled, and left.

Originally, Gao Liangwei intended to review them himself, but knowing that Song Guanchao came specifically for these documents, he handed them over: "Secretary Song, please have a look."

Flipping through the documents, a variety of data made his head spin.

General public budget revenue, government fund budget revenue, state-owned capital operation budget revenue...

These were specific compositions of government funds.

Next was the usage of fiscal funds.

Public budget expenditure, social insurance fund budget expenditure...

Finally, he found the information he wanted.

[Total Fiscal Funds of Lingjiang City]

[Fiscal Revenue of Lingjiang City for the First Three Quarters]

[Fiscal Expenditure of Lingjiang City for the First Three Quarters]

Among them, fiscal expenditures exceeded fiscal revenues by nearly 40 billion.

It's very normal for the finances to be in deficit.

Not only domestically, but even in developed countries, it's the same.

Ninety-nine percent of countries and cities have consistently higher expenditures than revenues, relying on total funds to maintain.

And this year, the available fiscal funds of Lingjiang City are only less than 15 billion.

Seeing this data, although Song Guanchao was prepared, he still felt a heaviness in his heart.

15 billion...

This sum looks substantial, but it really doesn't stretch far.

The Lingjiang high-speed rail section totals 177 kilometers, with a total cost of 18.3 billion, and the relocation compensation is currently estimated at around 2 billion; this doesn't include subsequent demolition fees.

All in all, it amounts to nearly 25 billion.

While the National Railway Bureau covers 50%, their responsibility is only for the construction cost.

Meaning the expenses falling on Lingjiang exceed 15 billion!

Of course, this 15 billion isn't spent all at once but in stages.

Under normal circumstances, even if fiscal funds are tight, as long as they get through the last quarter of this year, next year's new fiscal budget would provide relief.

But judging from Zheng Bihui's covert maneuvers, even next year, Wu Qiangwei might not receive the corresponding fiscal allocations.

After all, fiscal expenditures have a priority hierarchy.

Public budgets and social security are of the highest priority.

If next year's fiscal expenditure is 10 billion, and these high-priority expenditures require 8 billion, only the remaining 2 billion can be used for other purposes.

Moreover, the Finance Bureau is a department of the City Government. Even if Gao Liangwei is Wu Qiangwei's person, it doesn't help.

Because the fiscal authority has always been with the City Government.

Even if Zheng Bihui is essentially sidelined, as long as he is mayor in name, he is nominally in charge of finances!

What the fiscal funds are used for is not up to Wu Qiangwei to decide!

If Zheng Bihui wants the Finance Bureau to spend money on urban renewal, it definitely can't be used for building high-speed rail.

If Secretary Lu stands with Wu Qiangwei, the two of them working together could theoretically contend with Zheng Bihui over fiscal power.

But the problem is that the urban renewal project is now in Secretary Lu's hands!

Lingjiang City's top leaders are essentially aligned!

Instead, it's Wu Qiangwei who finds herself isolated.

Song Guanchao initially thought the high-speed rail project would proceed smoothly, becoming Wu Qiangwei's first impressive achievement as Deputy Secretary.

Yet, they never anticipated the Finance Bureau unexpectedly running out of money!

This left Song Guanchao with a sense of disgust, as if he had been screwed.

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