Kaohsiung's 2027 city budget is shrinking, and the mayor is blaming Taiwan's revamped revenue-sharing law — bad news for the city's building plans.

• Kaohsiung's total budget falls to NT$199.1 billion, down NT$4.9 billion from this year.
• The city keeps more of its own tax money now, but central government project grants dropped by over NT$12 billion — a much bigger hit.
• Mayor Chen Chi-mai is urging lawmakers from all parties to back the Cabinet's version of the revenue-sharing law so regional development stays balanced.
• The city says it has run five straight years with no new borrowing and cut debt by NT$31.2 billion.
• Spending still goes to metro lines, the Nanzih tech park road network, flood control, water recycling, and free school lunches.

Outlook: The fight over the revenue-sharing law heads back to the legislature, and how it lands will decide whether Kaohsiung's construction push keeps its funding.