Twenty-five municipalities and affiliated organizations were in the red on their ordinary account balance sheets in fiscal 2001, according to a central government survey released Tuesday.
The survey, conducted by the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry, said the figure represents an increase of four from the previous year.
The 25 municipal groups included Kyoto City and Omuta City in western Japan. Kyoto saw red ink for the first time since fiscal 1999.
Total revenues at the nation's municipalities in the year came to 52.938 trillion yen, up 0.3 percent from the previous year, while expenditures amounted to 51.406 trillion yen, up 0.5 percent, the survey said.
The ratio of personnel and other expenses to current revenues was up one point at 84.6 percent, its first rise in three years.
On the revenue side, regional tax revenues edged up 0.3 percent thanks to an increase in fixed asset tax revenues. Local tax grants, however, declined 7.2 percent.
On the expenditure side, social support costs rose 6.9 percent, while investment declined 4.3 percent due to a drop in public works projects.