Keelung's mayor says the city can't afford a universal cash payout, and his election challenger says that's because the city has been spending badly — bad news for residents hoping for the same money other Taiwanese will get.

• President Lai Ching-te announced a NT$10,000 cash handout for everyone next year.
• Keelung mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang says the city is short on money and will only give seniors NT$6,500 at Mid-Autumn Festival and next spring.
• City revenue keeps shrinking even though Keelung's share of central government funds went up.
• Challenger Tung Tzu-wei says the city spends without a real plan and just patches one hole by digging another.
• Tung claims the senior payout is an election-year copy of his own proposal, noting no cash went out in the past three years.

Outlook: Expect cash handouts to become the central fight in Keelung's mayoral race.