286: Two-child policy

To help Chen Haotian adapt better to life here, Chen Yuqing had already made arrangements with the two nannies before coming to Yushu County. She had them go home to handle their affairs and then come to Yushu County today.

Chen Yuqing was not short on money. She planned to stay in Yushu County for three months and wait until school started before returning to the provincial capital, at which point Chen Haotian would return to his kindergarten there.

Since she wasn't short on money, she asked the two nannies to come to Yushu County to take care of her life and Chen Haotian, giving each an extra five thousand yuan in salary per month. How could the two nannies refuse?

Soon, Yuqing, Sister Yuxi, and the child adapted to life here. Lin Zifeng was busy with work during the day, and his life at night was not only pleasant but also far more blissful than before.

Not long after starting work one day, Xu Minghao came to Lin Zifeng's Office.

The two sat on the sofa, drinking tea while discussing their current work.

“Secretary, in addition to the 478 million yuan you secured from the provincial capital last time, the other Standing Committee Members and I have secured 230 million yuan through various channels.

These funds have already been deposited into our County Finance Bureau's account. Our dedicated funds have now reached over 9.5 billion yuan.

The compensation required for the land occupied by the five expressways, according to national compensation regulations, is 126 million yuan. This compensation is being distributed rapidly and is expected to be fully in place by the end of this week.

The bidding process has been successfully completed. Seven powerful and well-known domestic engineering companies won the bids, and all seven projects will start simultaneously next week.

After the start of construction, our County Party Committee and County Government must, according to the contract requirements, disburse 30% of the total project funds to the seven companies.

When the project is halfway finished, we will disburse another 40% of the project funds. The remaining 30% will be paid after the project is fully completed and passes inspection.

In order not to affect the various aspects of development in Yushu County, we require the construction units to complete the work within half a year while ensuring quality and quantity. That is, the construction period is six months.

It’s only the beginning of June now, so these projects will be completely finished before New Year's Day arrives.

Our 1.5 billion yuan funding gap just needs to be resolved within half a year. There’s no rush to seek loans from the bank right now.”

Hearing Xu Minghao's report, Lin Zifeng nodded with satisfaction and said, “Once construction is fully underway, we must ensure safety and quality control.

Our staff must visit the construction sites for inspection and supervision at least once a week.

Since the 1.5 billion yuan funding gap only needs to be resolved within half a year, there's no hurry to get a bank loan.

We can arrange for our staff to contact the banks in advance. By the time the projects are completed, it would be best if we could secure interest-free or low-interest loans.”

After Xu Minghao agreed, he spoke again: “Secretary, for next week's groundbreaking ceremony, should we invite the Municipal Leaders?”

Lin Zifeng thought for a moment before saying, “County Head, some time ago, when our Municipal Leaders saw our Leadership Team Members, they had quite a headache!

I suspect that if we invite the Municipal Leaders, they'll be afraid we're setting a 'Hongmen Banquet' for them. Let's not keep our Municipal Leaders on edge.

We've reaped no small amount of benefits from the City Level. The leaders of brother units in other counties and districts probably feel quite unbalanced in their hearts! Let's keep a low profile.

Once these projects are finished and open to traffic, we can invite the Municipal Leaders to attend our completion and opening ceremony!”

“The Secretary's consideration is indeed comprehensive. I think our Municipal Leaders really wouldn't want to attend our commencement ceremony at this time.

That Secretary Qiao of ours stayed at the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection for two whole days, which gave me a completely new perspective on this serious Secretary Qiao.

Our leadership team was so persistent that even the leaders' secretaries found it difficult when they saw us.

Even if we invited the Municipal Leaders, they would be afraid we'd take the opportunity to fleece them again,”

Xu Minghao said amusingly.

“The Comrades have all done their best in this work. In the future, the people of Yushu County will remember us,”

Lin Zifeng said with a face full of smiles.

Xu Minghao nodded and said, “Secretary, the Comrades all know that you are leading us to change the history of Yushu County together. Now our Leadership Team Members are unprecedentedly united, and their work enthusiasm is very high.

In the near future, we will witness the major changes in Yushu County together.”

Looking at the expectant Xu Minghao, Lin Zifeng smiled and nodded, saying, “County Head, I just had the Office issue a notice. The Standing Committee will meet punctually at 2:00 PM.

I'll coordinate with you first. I just received a notice from higher authorities that the two-child policy has been fully opened up. In order for the county's base population and urban population to reach the standards quickly, some new policies need to be introduced.

Therefore, there are only two items on the Standing Committee's agenda: one is to research and discuss the subsidy policy for having a second child, and the second is the free policy for converting rural households to non-rural ones.”

“Secretary, the free policy for converting rural households can quickly increase the urban population; I completely agree with that.

However, the full opening of the two-child policy already means that having a second child is legal and reasonable, and won't result in any fines. Isn't that enough? Do we really need our county finance to subsidize families having a second child?

With several major projects starting at the same time, our finances already have a 1.5 billion yuan gap. If we also subsidize families for a second child, the fiscal gap will be even larger.

Could you perhaps reconsider this policy?

Even without subsidies, our county's permanent population can exceed 500,000 by the end of the year,”

Xu Minghao expressed his opinion.

“County Head, the simultaneous start of several infrastructure projects will at most cause financial difficulties for Yushu County for one year. By this time next year, we will gradually recover.

Given our fiscal revenue situation, once we pass this difficult period, what will this subsidy policy amount to?

Don't forget that the population dividend is also an advantage. If we succeed in withdrawing the county and establishing a City Level, the prosperity of the City Level will be inseparable from the basic masses of the people,”

Lin Zifeng explained patiently.

Xu Minghao nodded subconsciously and then asked, “Secretary, then what amount do you plan to set for this policy?”

“My opinion is that for every household that has a second child, the county finance will provide a subsidy of 3,000 yuan. Each township can independently set the amount of this subsidy based on its own financial situation; we won't interfere.

Whether there is a subsidy and how much it is will be entirely up to each township to decide,”

Lin Zifeng stated his opinion.

“Then what if a family has a third child or even more children?” Xu Minghao pressed.

“If it is a multiple birth, each additional child will receive an extra 3,000 yuan subsidy, while the national policy subsidies remain unchanged.

Although the two-child policy is now open, there are subsidies only for the second child; there will be no subsidies for any additional children.

Furthermore, this subsidy policy will only take effect after it has been passed by the Standing Committee and officially issued. Any births before then will be ineligible,”

Lin Zifeng had already planned it out in his heart, so when he heard Xu Minghao's inquiry, he laid out his plan without any hesitation.