2. Policies and a budget to fulfill Tokyo’s mission

Strengthening of policies to realize the three cities

We will face mounting issues head-on, and lay a firm foundation for growth that continues into the future. The “Strengthening of Policies to Realize the Three Cities” plan released last month outlines the specific steps to achieve this vision.

To further ensure realization of the three cities, we have strengthened policies outlined in The Action Plan for 2020 based on the progress of the plan, the eight strategies that focus on “people” set forth in Key Policy Directions 2017, and other guidelines. Adding a new approach of “opening up Tokyo’s future using ICT,” with the support of the people of Tokyo powering us on, we will speedily advance along the even clearer path envisioned.

Fiscal 2018 budget proposal

We have also made the contents of the upcoming fiscal year’s proposed budget, which will facilitate numerous policies, even more well-modulated -- attentive to where more spending is needed and where it is not. From the standpoint of ensuring that the mission entrusted to the metropolitan government is indeed carried out as we head toward a successful Tokyo 2020 Games and beyond, we have increased the general account budget for the first time in two years to 7.046 trillion yen, and have incorporated 407 new programs -- the most ever. We have also incorporated new ideas that are deeply rooted in daily life and work on the ground through efforts such as reflecting for the first time ever program proposals submitted by Tokyo citizens and TMG employees.

Meanwhile, to maintain sound finances with an eye to the future, we conducted 1,086 program reviews, using new objective criteria based on evidence and other methods, and secured a record 87 billion yen budget for them. We will continue to thoroughly implement wise spending, which is indispensable to sustainable city management.

Through truly effective investment based on a medium to long-term perspective as well, Tokyo will serve as the engine to overcome difficulties faced by our country. Continuing to build on our wise spending efforts, I believe that we have been able to put together a budget proposal that will allow Tokyo to fulfill its mission as the capital. In such an environment, the central government has irrationally taken away Tokyo’s precious tax revenues through this round of tax system reform. Furthermore, as part of fiscal 2019 reform, the central government says that it will consider new measures concerning amendment of the inequality in distribution of local corporate inhabitant taxes -- a matter that had already been settled. We definitely cannot overlook this situation. To address the enormous lack of financial resources faced by rural governments, based on the principles of decentralization, the direction we should pursue is to enhance sources of tax revenue according to each region’s role. In order to have this position reflected in the next round of tax revisions, together with the members of this Assembly, I will strategically and aggressively promote initiatives, while spreading understanding among the people of Tokyo, municipalities of Tokyo, and even other prefectures.