三、地方机构改革要搞好“控、调、改”

III. Local institutional reform should focus on "control, adjustment and change".

古人说，“善政必简”。这次地方政府机构改革，要着力搞好“控、调、改”。控，就是严格控制机构编制总量；调，就是调整优化机构编制结构；改，就是通过深化改革推动机构编制释放潜力。

One old saying has it that, "A good government is a slim government". This round of local government institutional reform must ensure success in "exercising control, making adjustment and promoting change". "Control" refers to strictly controlling the total size of government staff. "Adjustment" refers to making adjustments and improvements to the personnel structure. And "change" refers to unleashing staff potential through deepening reform.

（一） 要严控机构编制总量。这次改革要把握住两条硬杠杠：

一是对地方政府机构设置实行总额限制，控制政府规模。二是确保财政供养人员只减不增，这是本届政府向全社会的承诺，难度虽大，但我们要言必信、行必果。为什么要严控机构编制总量？从现实情况看，各级财政收入不太可能再像过去那样高速增长了，而财政供养人员多，往往“食之者众，生之者寡”，本届政府组建半年多，一些地区和部门又陆续提出增编要求，不控制将难以为继。现在机构编制总量已经很大，叠床架屋，效率低下，甚至滋生腐败，影响政府形象，也影响努力工作的公务人员的积极性，最终损害的是人民群众利益。

1. The size of government staffing must be put under rigorous control. In this round of reform, we must observe two principles: one is to set a limit on the total number of local government agencies in order to control government size; the other is to make sure government payroll will only shrink and not expand. This is a commitment this government has made to the entire population. Difficult as it is, a promise is a promise and we will honor it with good faith. Why do we need to strictly control the size of government staffing? Given the current situation, government revenues at various levels are unlikely to see fast growth as in the past. With a large payroll, we will, more often than not, end up in a situation where the little produced by the few will soon be depleted by the many who consume. In just half a year since the formation of this government, some localities and departments have again asked to increase their staffing. Without control, the problem will go from bad to worse. The size of government staffing is already very big. Duplicating responsibilities and overlapping portfolios will not only lead to inefficiency, but even breed corruption. It will tarnish government image and dampen the enthusiasm of those hardworking civil servants. Eventually, it is the interest of the people that is at stake.

（二）要调整优化机构编制结构。现在机构编制不是总量不够，而是结构不合理，机构编制资源没有配置好。一方面，需要加强的重点领域和关键环节，有的人手不够，该管的甚至没人管；另一方面，已经弱化的领域，机构编制没有及时减下来，造成人浮于事。在严控总量的情况下，调整优化机关和事业单位机构编制结构，潜力很大。这两年，推进事业单位分类改革，通过清理规范，就已经核销了一部分编制。现在有些机关上面很大、下面很细，成了鸵鸟。各地要下决心，该加强的加强，该弱化的弱化，特别要加强基层、加强一线，把上级机关“瘦身”与基层一线“强身”统筹考虑，把编制结构调整好。

2. The organization and staffing structure of government agencies should be adjusted and improved. The problem at hand is not insufficient size, but poor structure and a misallocation of resources in terms of organizational setup and staffing. On the one hand, there is a shortage of hands in those key areas and links that should be strengthened, and government responsibilities that should be taken care of are even left unattended. On the other hand, in areas already identified as requiring less government attention, the agencies fail to streamline accordingly, resulting in overstaffing. While capping the overall size, we should also see the great potential in adjusting and improving the organizational and staffing structure of government agencies and public institutions. Over the past two years, we have been advancing reform of public institutions based on different categories and have removed some agencies and positions through rectification and regulation. Right now, some government agencies have fat bodies and thin legs, like an ostrich. Local governments must be determined to strengthen those institutions that should be strengthened and scale back those where it is necessary. In particular, the grassroots level and the frontline of government institutions should be fortified. When we make adjustments to the organizational and staffing structure, we have to give consideration to the need of slimming down higher-level governments while beefing-up those at the grassroots level.

（三）要通过深化改革满足事业发展的需要。严控机构编制总量、调整结构，根本上还是要靠深化改革、创新管理。从多年经验看，不改革、不创新，就很难跳出“精简—膨胀—再精简—再膨胀”的怪圈。近年来一些地方在推进机构改革上进行了积极有效的探索。有的地方推行大部门制改革，整合多个部门的市场监管职能和资源，构建统一的大市场监管体系，提升了服务管理水平和效率。有的地方实行编制实名制，对编外的、混编的都明确登记在册，并且向社会公开，让社会监督，从制度和管理上解决“吃空饷”、在编不在岗、虚报冒领财政资金等问题。这些方面的改革，各地要继续大胆探索，及时总结经验加以推广。中央各部门不得以任何形式干预地方机构设置和编制调整。

3. Reform should be deepened to meet our needs for development. To control the size and adjust the structure of government agencies and staffing, the key is to deepen reform and innovate management. Experience over the years shows that without reform and innovation, it is very difficult to break the vicious cycle of streamlining-swelling-streamlining again-swelling again. In recent years, some localities have made good and effective explorations in institutional reform. Some have consolidated the market regulation functions and resources of several departments into one bigger department in order to build a unified, overarching market regulation system and thereby upgrading the quality and efficiency of its services and management. Some localities follow a real-name staffing system. All outside personnel, including those borrowed from government-affiliated institutions, are entered into records and disclosed to the public for scrutiny, effectively closing institutional and management loopholes that allow people to freeload, stay on the payroll without reporting for duty or make false claims for government funding. All local governments are encouraged to boldly explore reforms aimed at addressing these issues and good experience should be promptly summarized and shared. No central government agency may interfere in any way with the readjustment of local organizational setup and staffing.

地方政府改革是一场自我革命，涉及面广、触及利益深。各地要按照中央的统一部署，把这项改革作为一项重要工作。要民意为先、舍利为公，敢啃“硬骨头”，义无反顾、一抓到底。要与开展党的群众路线教育实践活动结合起来，与贯彻落实中央八项规定结合起来，实现相互推动、相互促进。省级党委政府要负总责，主要领导要亲自抓，加强对本地区改革的指导和督促检查。各级政府要认真制定改革方案，明确改革的时间节点和任务分工，强化责任，遇到重大问题及时向中央报告。中央有关部门要加强指导、协调和督查。要严格机构编制纪律，对违反纪律的，要严肃查处。

Local government reform is a self-initiated revolution. It will involve many quarters and shake up vested interests. All localities must follow the unified arrangements of the central authorities and put this reform high on their agenda. They must put public opinion and interests first and display the courage to crack hard nuts and see the reform through without ever letting up. This reform should be combined with the campaign to study and practice the mass line of the CPC and the implementation of the "eight rules" of the CPC Central Committee so that these efforts will reinforce each other. Provincial Party committees and governments should assume overall responsibility for the reform. Leading officials must personally take charge and do more to guide, supervise and monitor the reform process in their respective jurisdictions. Government at all levels must develop plans with all seriousness, specify the timeline and task breakdown, hold themselves strictly accountable and report immediately to the central authorities whenever major issues arise. Competent authorities at the central level must strengthen guidance, coordination and supervision. Discipline in organizational setup and staffing must be strictly observed, and violations shall be dealt with without leniency.

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）