February 2010

The total amount is 1.6554 trillion yen, the same level as the previous year.

Facing an unprecedented decrease in income of 16.4 billion yen compared to the previous year due to a substantial reduction in the city tax, the city secured revenue by reducing the number of municipal employees and cutting the salaries of them. Outstanding city bonds have been reduced to avoid shifting the economic burden to future generations.

This budget plan was devised with the following two themes: first, to support the lives, safety and sense of security of citizens, and second, to shape future of Kyoto. The budget is concentrated on the construction of welfare, education and medical care facilities, while large-scale public works have been side-lined.

Specifically, the budget plan includes the construction of ten child care centers and thirteen care facilities, including special elderly nursing homes, while promoting environmentally friendly typical traditional housing in Kyoto for the modern era ("Kyo-Machiya in the Heisei Era"), and also the execution of a social experiment for specifying Shijo Street as a priority road for public transportation.

The budget plan is currently being discussed in the city council.

For further details, call the Financial Division on 075-222-3291.

Kyoto city had asked for submissions of essays about the happiness felt as a parent or a grandparent living with children nearby and what the writers would like to let children know, for example, "Thank You for Coming into Our Lives" or "The Joy of a Parent Raising Children". From the 64 essays entered, one Mayor's Prize and five Kyokan Prizes were awarded for the essays which were highly regarded and gave practical insights for many people, including the following two titles: "Child Raising Supported by the Local Government and People" and "A Busy Father's Delight in Caring for Children".

The followings are excerpts from the six rules of conduct for citizens specified in the Kyoto Citizens' Charter for Nurturing Children Together:
- We respect children and will protect their precious lives.
- We will behave appropriately to be reliable and to serve as models to children.

To aim to improve the society where children who create the future can grow up healthy, it's important for us to think about what we can do now and put the ideas into action together.

For further details, call the Child and Home section on 075-251-2380 or the Education Board Home and Local Education Support Section on 075-251-0456.

By promoting the creation of a town that facilitates enjoyable walking where pedestrians and public transportation are given priority, this strategy encourages the conversion of car-centric town and life into a pedestrian-centered town and lifestyle. Kyoto city formulated this strategy in the wake of discussion at councils, through questionnaires and symposia, starting July 2008.

The strategy consists of three themes: reassessment and strengthening of the existing public transportation, creation of a town which gives priority to pedestrians and lifestyle changes. Eighty-eight projects are included, for example, environmental improvement of bus stops, the rebuilding of the south exit square at Kyoto station, the use of Shijo Street as a transit mall and establishment of the Kyoto Slow Life Week for banning the use of cars in certain areas.

The "Walking City, Kyoto" charter established by Kyoto city is the first in Japan that serves as the code of conduct for the citizens to create a town for enjoyable walking.

Kyoto city will work together with its citizens and transport companies to give impetus to the strategy.

The "Walking City, Kyoto" Charter
In our city Kyoto, every citizen:
- cares for one's healthy, environmentally friendly and people-friendly life and appreciates joyful walking in day-to-day living.
And the citizens and the city administration work together to:
- maintain and improve road space and public transportation so that everyone feels like walking in the city and thus bringing prosperity to town.
- help every tourist coming to Kyoto fully enjoy attraction of walking.

For further details, call the Kyoto City Walking Town Promotion Section 075-222-3483.

The residents in such apartments will have to separate recyclable garbage including cans, glass and plastic bottles, and plastic packaging. Information on how to separate garbage will be provided through management companies, etc.

Moreover, from June 1st, to fully enforce thorough garbage separation, the residents affected apartments and businesses from which garbage is collected by the licensed companies will have to use commercially available transparent plastic garbage bags. The size of the garbage bags is up to 90 liters.

If garbage is put out in a manner which violates the separation rules, despite the fact that the separation rules have been made clear to residents, the garbage may be left uncollected.

Separation of recyclable garbage is an important rule for garbage collection. The designated transparent plastic bags are used in order to reduce the quantity of garbage. Cooperation of the residents of the apartment buildings where licensed companies collect garbage is very much appreciated.

Please use bags designated by Kyoto city for recyclable garbage if your garbage is collected by the city.

For further details, call the Kyoto City Circulation Planning Section 075-213-4930.