Hsinchu City has drafted a budget where money coming in beats money going out for the first time — a milestone, though it comes with a smaller overall pot.

• Planned revenue tops planned spending by about NT$300 million, a first for the city.
• The total budget shrank by roughly NT$4 billion from the prior year.
• The main cause: the city was upgraded to the top financial-strength tier, so the central government cut its subsidy rate, wiping out billions in aid money.
• Schools and culture take the biggest share of spending, followed by social welfare, then economic development.
• Families get more support — bigger birth and pregnancy payouts, health insurance help for seniors, and more points on elderly and disability cards.

Outlook: The city will lean more on its own tax base going forward, with spending on youth AI programs, road work, and smart-government systems set to continue.