Core Viewpoint - Local governments are struggling to implement austerity measures effectively, leading to various financial irregularities and overspending despite the push for tighter budgets [1][3]. Group 1: Financial Irregularities - In Hebei, 7 departments issued 164.16 million yuan in unauthorized benefits and excessive expert fees [2]. - Hunan reported 17 departments overspending by approximately 7.881 million yuan, while Guangdong found 6 departments and 2 units misallocating about 739,000 yuan [2]. - Liaoning identified 50 townships with unauthorized expenditures totaling around 393,000 yuan, and Inner Mongolia reported 284,000 yuan in mismanaged public funds [2]. Group 2: Budgeting Issues - The current budgeting system is criticized for being inadequate, leading to overspending and misallocation of funds [3][4]. - There is a lack of scientific standards for public expenditure, causing departments to misallocate funds between basic and project expenditures [4][6]. - The phenomenon of "last-minute spending" is prevalent, with departments rushing to spend funds before year-end to avoid budget cuts, as seen in reports from Hebei and Inner Mongolia [4][5]. Group 3: Recommendations for Improvement - Experts suggest a zero-tolerance policy for violations and the establishment of effective punishment mechanisms to enforce budget discipline [3]. - Increasing transparency in budget processes is recommended to reduce irregularities and enhance public oversight [7]. - The government is urged to refine budgeting procedures and ensure timely allocation of funds to prevent last-minute spending and improve overall budget execution [6][7].