Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 273 Research on Fiscal and Tax Work and Medical Disputes

The power company is known as the "power tiger"; the finance bureau is known as the "God of Wealth," indicating that they are rich.

From the outside, the Finance Bureau building didn't seem particularly special.

But once inside the building, the wealth of the "God of Wealth" becomes unmistakable.

The marble floor was so smooth it reflected a person's image, the giant crystal chandelier in the lobby was dazzling, the department signs were made of brass, and several money trees taller than a person were placed in the corner.

"The Finance Bureau is indeed a god of wealth; the office conditions are quite good," Wu Zhiyuan said casually.

Li Guohua smiled broadly: "The building was built six or seven years ago, and it was renovated last year to improve office conditions and enhance service efficiency."

The small conference room on the third floor is also very luxurious.

A heavy mahogany conference table, paired with genuine leather chairs.

Wu Zhiyuan noticed Wu Fangcai's negligence from the details.

When leaders come to conduct research, they usually set out place cards.

Some organizations may communicate in advance to find out whether or not they need to display name cards.

This time, the Finance Bureau neither communicated with them nor presented any name cards, indicating that they did not take Wu Zhiyuan's visit for research seriously at all.

Wu Fang arrived a few minutes after Wu Zhiyuan had taken his seat.

Wu Fangcai looked to be around forty-five or forty-six years old. He was not tall, probably less than 1.7 meters, and was overweight with a large head and a chubby face.

"County Chief Wu, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!"

Secretary Geng had some urgent business to attend to and kept asking a barrage of questions on the phone, which went on and on.

Wu Zhiyuan and Wu Fangcai shook hands symbolically, with Wu Zhiyuan saying in a flat tone, "Director Wu is busy, I understand."

Secretary Geng's phone call was obviously for important business.

Wu Fangcai glanced at Li Guohua: "Director Li, where are the other members of the leadership team? Have them come over and meet with County Chief Wu."

Li Guohua said, "It's really unfortunate today. The other members of the team are either in the city for training, in a meeting at the county government, or conducting research at the grassroots level."

Wu Zhiyuan waved his hand: "Then forget it. I came here today mainly to meet everyone and talk about financial work."

Wu Fangcai tentatively asked, "What aspect of the situation would County Chief Wu like to know?"

Wu Zhiyuan got straight to the point and asked, "Director Wu, I'm new here and not familiar with the county's financial situation."

First, I'd like to know how large Qingshan County's total fiscal budget was last year.

What are the total fiscal revenue and local general public budget revenue? What is the expenditure structure?

How much is in the transfer payments from higher levels of government?

What percentage of our disposable income does this represent?

Wu Fangcai knew these numbers like the back of his hand and recited a string of figures.

Wu Zhiyuan listened and took notes.

Qingshan County's annual fiscal revenue is less than one billion yuan, of which more than 70% comes from transfer payments.

This means that more than 70% of the "blood transfusions" came from higher-ups.

The local government's ability to generate its own revenue is extremely weak.

Wu Zhiyuan asked, "Director Wu, given this fiscal structure, what specific ideas and measures do we have for cultivating local tax sources and enhancing our self-sustaining capabilities?"

This time, Wu Fangcai gave an irrelevant and off-topic answer, spouting clichés such as increasing revenue and reducing expenditure, implementing policies, and securing funding.

Wu Zhiyuan then asked, "Director Wu, I heard that the Finance Bureau building was renovated last year. Approximately how much did it cost?"

Wu Fangcai said nonchalantly, "We did renovate the whole place last year. The main problem was that the internal facilities were old and the walls were peeling. We did it to improve the office environment and enhance the company's image."

It cost approximately six million yuan. Everything was done strictly according to government procurement and engineering bidding procedures; all the paperwork was complete, and the audit was passed.

Wu Zhiyuan felt very uncomfortable. Even if the renovation procedures were complete, the finance bureau of a poor county should not spend money so lavishly.

It is important to know that Qingshan County has poor transportation infrastructure, especially rural roads, which are in very bad condition. On sunny days, you'll be covered in dust, and on rainy days, you'll be covered in mud.

Many villagers face difficulties accessing drinking water; many rural school buildings are in dire need of repair.

The water infrastructure is underdeveloped, resulting in a weak ability to withstand natural risks...

In short, Qingshan County has far too many places where money is needed.

The Finance Bureau, on the other hand, spent over six million yuan on a lavish renovation of its newly built building, which was only a few years old.

Wu Zhiyuan did not investigate further.

After all, he made it clear that he came to visit everyone and understand the situation. If he kept focusing on the issue of renovation costs, it would seem aggressive and could easily give others an excuse to accuse him of deliberately causing trouble.

Moreover, Wu Fangcai casually said, "The procedures are complete and the audit has passed," and closed the door halfway.

It is unwise to launch an attack based solely on feelings and personal judgment without having solid evidence or discovering obvious procedural loopholes.

But he remembered this debt.

Next, Wu Zhiyuan went to the county tax bureau.

Under normal circumstances, when visiting the tax bureau for research, the director of the finance bureau will accompany you.

However, Wu Fangcai made an excuse that Geng Dongqing had arranged an urgent task and he could not go, so he asked Deputy Director Li Guohua to accompany him.

The tax bureau is two or three kilometers away from the finance bureau, next to the county people's hospital.

This is a nine-story building.

In the same area, the tax bureau usually has a higher office building than the finance bureau because the tax bureau has more staff.

When the car stopped at the entrance of the tax bureau compound, Wu Zhiyuan was slightly taken aback by what he saw.

At the bottom of the steps leading to the tax bureau office building, there was a neat row of about seven or eight people, all dressed in crisp, dark blue tax uniforms.

The leader, around fifty years old and with a tall and straight figure, was none other than Bureau Chief Sun Limin.

Upon seeing Wu Zhiyuan's car stop, Sun Limin immediately strode forward, followed closely by the other members of the leadership team.

Zhao Bo got out of the car first and opened the door for Wu Zhiyuan.

Wu Zhiyuan had just taken a step when Sun Limin approached, his voice booming, "County Chief Wu, welcome to the County Tax Bureau for inspection and guidance!"

Wu Zhiyuan extended his hand and shook hands with Sun Limin and the other comrades one by one, smiling and saying, "Director Sun, comrades, you're too kind."

I'm just here to familiarize myself with the situation; I apologize for disturbing everyone's work.

"It's an honor for our tax bureau to have County Chief Wu here!" Sun Limin stepped aside to lead the way. "County Chief Wu, please!"

The first floor is the tax service hall.

It's tax filing season, and many taxpayers are filing their taxes and receiving invoices.

Wu Zhiyuan chatted with several taxpayers, and overall, the taxpayers were quite satisfied with the tax bureau's service awareness and attitude.

We entered the conference room.

Place cards were placed in the meeting room.

It's clear that the tax bureau attaches great importance to Wu Zhiyuan's investigation.

Logically speaking, the tax bureau is a vertically managed unit, and the promotion of cadres is decided by the higher-level tax bureau, unlike the finance bureau.

However, their attitude was completely different from that of the Finance Bureau.

Sun Limin sat up straight and spoke first: "Respected County Head Wu, on behalf of all the staff of Qingshan County Taxation Bureau, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations on your appointment as Executive Deputy County Head!"

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit our bureau for research and guidance.

Next, I will briefly report on the basic situation of our bureau, the progress of revenue collection, and some measures taken to serve local economic development...

Wu Zhiyuan put down his pen and glanced at the tax bureau team members sitting opposite him: "Director Sun's report was very comprehensive and practical."

After listening to this, I have the following thoughts:

First, the baseline data is clear and the situation is well understood;

Second, the work is practical and the measures are detailed;

Third, it has accurate positioning and a strong service awareness.

As a vertically managed unit, the tax bureau, while legally organizing revenue collection and implementing national policies, proactively considers how to serve local development in line with the central tasks of the county party committee and government. This is truly commendable.

He first gave full affirmation, then changed the subject: "I am new here and am still getting familiar with the county's economic and tax base. I would like to ask Director Sun and everyone a few questions."

Sun Limin respectfully said, "County Magistrate Wu, please speak."

Wu Zhiyuan asked, "My first question is, among the key tax-paying enterprises in Qingshan County, which companies rank highest in tax revenue?"

Sun Limin replied: "County Chief Wu, to be honest, our Qingshan County is a traditional agricultural county with a weak industrial base and a lack of large industrial enterprises with core competitiveness and strong driving force."

According to recent tax data, the top taxpayers are mainly concentrated in several sectors.

The tobacco company and the power company ranked first and second, respectively.

Both of these companies are monopolistic industries with stable tax contributions, serving as the ballast of the county.

Following closely behind were several banking institutions.

These mainly include the branches of the four major state-owned banks in the county, as well as local rural commercial banks.

Further down are several relatively large real estate development companies.

The real estate market has been doing well in recent years. Tax revenue has increased rapidly…

Wu Zhiyuan nodded: "Director Sun's analysis is very thorough and well-reasoned."

This tax revenue structure actually has hidden dangers.

While tax revenue from monopolistic industries remains stable, its growth potential is limited, and it is highly susceptible to government policy adjustments.

The growth of real estate tax revenue is unsustainable.

From the perspective of your tax department, what potential breakthroughs does Qingshan County have in cultivating new, healthier, and more sustainable tax sources?

Or, in your tax collection and service processes, have you identified any industries or types of businesses that, while currently small in scale, have strong growth potential and deserve our focused attention and support?

After thinking for a moment, Sun Limin said, "County Chief Wu's question hits the nail on the head; it's something we've been pondering."

Based on what we understand, there are several areas that deserve our attention.

"First, ecotourism and related service industries."

Qingshan County has abundant tourism resources, such as Qingshan Gorge and Qingshan Ancient City, but many of these resources remain undeveloped and hidden deep in the mountains, unknown to most people.

Currently, the overall tax contribution of the tourism industry is not significant. However, we have noticed that in recent years, the number of small and micro enterprises and individual businesses, represented by family homestays, farmhouses, specialty restaurants, and tourism merchandise sales, has grown rapidly, and their business conditions are generally improving.

Although the amount of tax paid by an individual taxpayer is not high, the agglomeration effect and the role in driving employment have already begun to emerge.

If the county can increase its efforts in infrastructure, brand building, and standardized management, this area could very well become a significant growth driver in the future.

Wu Zhiyuan nodded frequently, smiled encouragingly, and noted down some key words.

Sun Limin continued, "Secondly, is the deep processing of specialty agricultural products."

Qingshan is a major agricultural county with abundant agricultural resources. In the past, it mainly sold raw materials, which had low added value.

However, in the past two years, some small-scale tea refining factories, edible fungus processing plants, and primary processing enterprises of Chinese medicinal materials have begun to emerge.

Although the scale is small and the technology is not advanced, they have solved some of the problems in selling agricultural products and created tax revenue and employment.

If we can provide support in terms of technology, funding, and market channels, and guide them towards standardization and branding, they have great potential.

Encouragingly, Xindian Town has attracted Dingyue Group to invest hundreds of millions of yuan in the old brewery and town industrial park to engage in the deep processing of agricultural products.

Once completed and put into operation, it will become an important source of tax revenue for our county.

"Third, we have noticed that with the development of e-commerce and logistics, some young people in the county have started to sell local specialties online, and some have even formed small teams."

Although many of them are not formally registered and their transaction volume is not large, their business model is new and their momentum is good.

If it can be standardized and guided, and brought under the scope of regulation and service, it might give rise to some new business models.

Wu Zhiyuan affirmed, "Director Sun's observations are very meticulous, and his thinking is very profound."

It is commendable that the tax bureau can proactively consider local development while organizing revenue in accordance with the law, and provide valuable reference for the county party committee and county government's decision-making from a tax perspective.

This is not just about collecting taxes, but also about using taxes to inform policy-making, demonstrating the professional competence and overall awareness of the tax bureau staff…

As Wu Zhiyuan finished his research and was preparing to head home, a sudden commotion erupted from the direction of the neighboring county hospital, accompanied by sharp cries and fierce shouts.

Wu Zhiyuan looked in the direction of the sound and saw that a large group of people, probably dozens, had gathered in the open space in front of the outpatient building of the People's Hospital.

At the front of the crowd, seven or eight people were holding several white banners with large, eye-catching black characters that read:

"Incompetent doctors are harming people! Give me back my uterus!"

"Those who disregard human life must be severely punished!"

"This unscrupulous hospital! Where is justice?!"