Taichung's city government is sitting on close to NT$78 billion in debt, an awkward number for Mayor Lu Shiu-yen, who built her image on careful household-style budgeting.

• The city owes roughly NT$78 billion even after eight years of aggressive land selling.
• Taichung raised over NT$50 billion between 2019 and 2023 by auctioning off redevelopment and land-consolidation plots.
• Even land earmarked for social housing was sold, prompting the Interior Ministry to formally ask the city to stop.
• The ministry wants those plots held back for affordable housing instead, arguing residents need homes more than the city needs cash.
• Critic Chou Hsuan says the "mama mayor" branding does not match a balance sheet this deep in the red.

Outlook: Expect the debt figure and the sold-off social housing land to become a standing attack line against Lu as election politics heat up.