No.58 Activities of Various Councils for Next Year's Budget Preparation

Although the lingering summer heat continues, as I write this manuscript in late August of 2016, it is about time to start moving towards the budget preparation for the next fiscal year.
In preparing the budget proposal, we formulate the "Budget Formulation Policy" around the end of August each year and communicate it to each department, instructing them to prepare the budget estimates accordingly. We aim for maximum effectiveness with minimal expenses and strive to reduce expenditures; however, the overall municipal budget cannot be covered solely by independent revenue sources such as Municipal Tax, so we are also working to secure revenue by introducing subsidies from the national government and Tokyo Metropolis.
Regarding mandatory expenses related to education and welfare, many are determined by rules for subsidies from the national and metropolitan governments. However, for investment expenses related to road and river maintenance, it is necessary to firmly make requests.
In particular, for requests that are difficult to implement alone, we are establishing organizations such as councils in cooperation and collaboration with neighboring cities and related organizations to carry out request activities. The outline of the councils I participate in is as follows.

Tokyo Mayors Association
It is composed of 26 cities in the Tama area with the aim of promoting communication and coordination among the cities, ensuring smooth city administration, and deepening mutual exchanges.
Tokyo River Improvement Promotion Alliance
This is composed of 14 wards, 21 cities, 2 towns, and 1 village in the Tokyo area related to the management rivers of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, aimed at preventing disasters caused by river flooding and other issues.
Tamagawa Maintenance Promotion Council
It is composed of 2 wards and 14 cities in Tokyo and Kawasaki City for the purpose of flood control and disaster prevention of the Tama River.
Tokyo Land Readjustment Project Promotion Alliance
It is composed of 11 wards, 25 cities, and 2 towns in Tokyo that are currently implementing land readjustment projects with the aim of promoting safe and comfortable community development.
Tokyo Road Improvement Promotion Alliance
This is composed of Tokyo and all cities and towns (26 cities, 5 towns, and 8 villages) to promote road development in the Tama Island region.
"Minami-Tama New Town Council"
It is composed of the five cities of Minami-Tama to discuss and examine various issues in the development area of Tama New Town and its surrounding regions, with the aim of requesting the national and metropolitan governments.
Tamagawa Bridge and Related Road Improvement Promotion Council
It is composed of 8 cities in the middle reaches of the Tamagawa River with the aim of widening, newly constructing, and replacing bridges.
Tokyo Metropolitan Continuous Elevated Crossing Project Promotion Council
This is composed of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 11 wards, 9 cities in Tokyo, and 8 railway business operators, aimed at promoting the continuous elevated railway crossing projects implemented in the city.
Tama Region Urban Monorail Construction Promotion Council
It is composed of 23 cities, 3 towns, and 1 village along the route, with the aim of early commercialization of the conceptual route.

Every year, we submit requests to the government, the National Diet, relevant ministries, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government through each of these routes.
Among these steady request activities, particularly regarding the Tama River bridge construction, significant achievements have been made. At the time this council was established in 1980, there were only 5 bridges and 12 lanes in the middle reaches of the Tama River, but as of now, this has been expanded to 9 bridges and 34 lanes. During this period, in Inagi City, the Inagi Ohashi Bridge was newly constructed, and the Tamagawahara Bridge and the Kosemoto Bridge were each replaced and widened from 2 lanes to 4 lanes, resolving the chronic traffic congestion that once existed.
We express our gratitude for the diligent activities of these councils and the efforts of those who have been involved in them, and we will continue to carry on these efforts to further the development of the Tama region.