求解“地方财政困难”

Core Viewpoint - The central economic work meeting emphasizes the importance of addressing local fiscal difficulties, indicating a shift towards systematic solutions for these issues, particularly in the context of increasing rigid expenditure and limited revenue growth [2][3][12]. Group 1: Local Fiscal Challenges - Local fiscal difficulties are characterized by insufficient liquidity and a stark contrast between limited fiscal revenue and unlimited rigid expenditures, particularly affecting grassroots fiscal conditions [2][11]. - The decline in land transfer income and the increasing burden of social welfare expenditures contribute to the worsening fiscal situation, with local governments struggling to meet the "three guarantees" (ensuring livelihood, salaries, and operational stability) [4][11]. - The phenomenon of "middle-region" fiscal challenges is prevalent, where regions like Liaoning face significant fiscal difficulties despite being classified as eastern provinces, highlighting horizontal fiscal imbalances [6][11]. Group 2: Revenue and Expenditure Dynamics - Local government revenues are under pressure from declining tax income, reduced land sales, and limited non-tax revenue sources, leading to a reliance on debt financing to cover expenditures [7][11]. - The fiscal growth and expenditure gap is widening, with increasing debt repayment obligations exacerbating the fiscal strain, particularly in regions with weaker industrial bases [5][11]. - The overall local government debt reached 53.7 trillion yuan by September 2025, with debt service payments growing faster than total expenditure, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability [10][11]. Group 3: Policy Responses and Recommendations - The central government is expected to implement measures to enhance local fiscal sustainability, including increasing transfer payments, optimizing expenditure structures, and reforming the fiscal system [12][15]. - Recommendations for local governments include focusing on regional industrial upgrades, improving budget performance management, and strictly managing debt to prevent the accumulation of hidden liabilities [15]. - A systematic approach to resolving local fiscal difficulties is necessary, involving both immediate liquidity support and long-term structural reforms to enhance local revenue generation capabilities [13][14].