Takatsuki City's Unique Price Hike Countermeasure Budget Bill, Including Extension of Basic Water Charge Exemption, Approved

On Monday, May 11, Reiwa 8 (2026), Takatsuki City submitted a budget of approximately 1.3 billion yen for its unique price hike countermeasures to the second extraordinary city council session of Reiwa 8. This budget aims to support citizens' lives and business activities affected by rising prices, including an extension of the basic water charge exemption and support for local businesses. The bill was deliberated and approved on the same day.

The main contents of the supplementary budget approved today include extending the exemption of basic water charges for household small-diameter pipes (13 to 25 mm), currently in effect, for another six months until the March 2027 meter reading (an exemption of 5,214 yen per household). Additionally, basic water charges for businesses (30 mm diameter or more) will be newly exempted for eight months, from August 2026 to the March 2027 meter reading. The total budget of 1,303,992,000 yen also includes subsidies for transportation businesses and alcoholic beverage manufacturers, as well as grants for social welfare facilities, health insurance medical institutions/pharmacies, educational/childcare facilities, and farmers.

Details of each project will be announced sequentially on the city's website and other platforms as soon as they are decided.

[General Account Supplementary Budget Details]

● Exemption of Basic Water Charges

Extends the exemption of basic water charges (small diameters 13, 20, 25 mm, mainly for households) for six months (from October 2026 to March 2027 meter readings).

*In the December 2025 city council, a budget for exemption from April to September 2026 meter readings was appropriated and is currently being implemented (an exemption of 10,428 yen per household from April 2026 to March 2027).

Additionally, basic water charges for non-small diameter pipes (30 mm diameter or more, mainly for businesses) will be newly exempted for eight months (from August 2026 to March 2027 meter readings).

Budget amount: 919.88 million yen

● Provision of Support Grants to Businesses

Support grants will be provided to businesses significantly affected by rising prices.

・Support for District Welfare Committee Activities

Grant amount: 30,000 to 70,000 yen, depending on the activity results (number of participants in Reiwa 7) for meal services and community cafes in each district.

Budget amount: 1.89 million yen

・Social Welfare Facilities, etc. (Facilities for the Elderly, Disabled, etc.)

Grant amount: 200,000 yen per residential/inpatient facility (100,000 yen for small facilities with 29 or fewer residents), 100,000 yen uniformly per day-care facility, 100,000 yen uniformly per home-visit facility.

Budget amount: 55.80 million yen

・Meal Delivery Service Providers

Grant amount: Determined based on the number of meals delivered in the previous fiscal year (from 150,000 to 800,000 yen).

Budget amount: 4.10 million yen

・Health Insurance Medical Institutions and Pharmacies

Grant amount: 100,000 to 2 million yen, depending on the facility category.

Budget amount: 76.00 million yen

・Educational/Childcare Facilities, Facilities for Children with Disabilities, Community Hubs, Private After-School Care Centers

Grant amount:

Nursery schools, certified childcare centers, kindergartens: 200,000 yen

Small-scale childcare businesses, in-house childcare businesses: 100,000 yen

Unlicensed childcare facilities, company-led childcare businesses: 200,000 yen for facilities with 20 or more children, 100,000 yen for facilities with 19 or fewer children

Facilities for children with disabilities: 100,000 yen

Community hubs: 100,000 yen

Private after-school care centers: 100,000 yen

Budget amount: 33.50 million yen

・Public Transportation Businesses

Grant amount: 60,000 yen per bus, 20,000 yen per taxi.

Budget amount: 19.417 million yen

・Commercial Farmers

Grant amount: Collaboration with JA Takatsuki to support fertilizer purchase costs for commercial farmers (city bears 15/100, JA Takatsuki bears 15/100, individual bears 70/100 of purchase costs).

Budget amount: 7.65 million yen

・Transportation Businesses

Grant amount: 100,000 to 2.8 million yen, depending on the number of vehicles owned.

Budget amount: 175.755 million yen

・Alcoholic Beverage Manufacturers

Grant amount: Increase in sake rice procurement costs for Reiwa 6 and Reiwa 7. Subsidy rate within 1/2. Maximum subsidy amount 2.5 million yen.

Budget amount: 10.00 million yen