Lack of manpower makes reconstruction lag

October 27, 2012

Disaster-zone project spending up but workers elude

Jiji

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20121027a8.html

Public works spending in 58 disaster-hit municipalities in the northeast surged 2.6-fold in fiscal 2011 compared with average levels thanks to reconstruction funding, but many projects lag because of a lack of manpower, according to the Board of Audit.

In a report submitted Thursday to the Diet, the board called for these local governments to be offered further assistance because the spike in recovery-related government funds has created severe employee shortfalls, resulting in a decline in the execution rate of projects.

The government allocated some ¥14.92 trillion for restoration work in the last fiscal year, and public works projects funded with reconstruction money in these municipalities totaled ¥592.6 billion in fiscal 2011, a huge increase from the average of ¥223.1 billion seen in the preceding five years. The figure was 10 times higher in 10 municipalities in the worst-hit prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima.

But data compiled by the board also showed the average execution rate for public works came to just 48.8 percent in the 58 municipalities, and that this figure dropped to less than 20 percent in six of them. On a general account basis, the equivalent rate at 16 central government agencies stood at 60.6 percent in the reporting year.

In addition to Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima, the board audited municipalities in Aomori, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Chiba prefectures to examine state subsidies and grants allocated for reconstruction work following the March 2011 quake and tsunami.

In terms of public works expenditure per employee, the civil engineering division of Kamaishi in Iwate Prefecture saw spending jump nearly 20 times compared with predisaster levels, while five other municipalities posted increases 10 times more than in an average year.

"Abnormally high public works budgets due to reconstruction-related funding has placed a huge strain on employees," the board noted.

Of the 58 municipalities, 40 have accepted a total of 800 employees dispatched from central government entities, other prefectures and municipalities, while 42 have hired a combined 2,088 workers on a temporary basis.

October 26, 2012

Half of disaster reconstruction outlays remain unused

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20121026p2a00m0na009000c.html

An average of just 48 percent of national funds doled out last fiscal year to 58 municipalities in seven prefectures hit hard by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear disaster has been spent, a probe by the Board of Audit of Japan has found.

The board's examination shows that the ratio of budget spending has been particularly low in local governments along the Pacific coastal region devastated by the killer tsunami.

Although the number of jobs to restore and rebuild roads, and other engineering work has increased, there has been a shortage of staff to do those jobs, preventing municipalities concerned from using up national outlays in the form of state subsidies and reconstruction grants.

The board urged the central government on Oct. 25 to obtain an overview of affected local governments' staffing levels and extend support to those in need, accordingly.

The board checked 58 cities, towns and villages in Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima and four other prefectures that received reconstruction grant notification in March this year. One city received such notification but did not receive any grants. The board sent out questionnaires to those local governments about subsidies and reconstruction grants supplied under the first through third supplementary budgets during fiscal 2011, asking them how much of the funds had been spent by March this year.

Of about 592.6 billion yen in total, the municipalities had utilized about 289.5 billion yen. Many coastal municipalities made use of only 30 to 40 percent of the assistance allotted. The town of Futaba in Fukushima Prefecture and the town of Hirono in Iwate Prefecture used only 6 percent and 11 percent of subsidies and reconstruction grants, respectively. On the other hand, the city of Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture spent 94 percent of aid it received from the central government.

Progress in restoring and rebuilding roads and other public facilities, as well as the disposal of debris, has been very slow. Although the number of employees and staff in charge of engineering jobs in the 58 municipalities increased by 208 from 2,968 before the disasters, public works costs among 10 local governments alone jumped tenfold.

Public works spending per employee in engineering work increased by 19 times from pre-disaster levels in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, and 15 times in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, while the ratios of budget execution stood at 34 percent and 46 percent, respectively. Many local governments with increasing numbers of public works had low ratios of budget execution.

An engineering works official at the Kamaishi Municipal Government says there is a shortage of engineering works employees to help upgrade infrastructure and negotiate land deals for mass relocations of residents to safe ground. A Board of Audit official says personnel assistance is important in ensuring a smooth reconstruction process.

___________________________________________________________________________