The Municipality is ‘not dissatisfied’ with the shortage
Translated by Thomas Ansell
The Gemeente Leeuwarden regularly posts losses of around 2 million euros each year, reports the Omrop Fryslân, however the municipality is ‘not dissatisfied’ with the gap in funding.
The city will reportedly make its financial shortfall disappear in the next two years, through a mixture of cutting costs and creative accounting. Despite the lack of funds, it is reported that the Gemeente Leeuwarden has big plans and ambitions to fulfil.
The news has come about following a so-called ‘midterm review’ that the Gemeente’s top brass have ordered. The review will show what has been achieved compared to plans set out after the last gemeente elections in 2017- where the Labour Party (PvdA) came out on top. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the review will also look into which plans need to be ‘broadened out’.
Aside from budget cuts, 11 million euros will also be taken from the Gemeente’s reserve funds. This injection will mean that the pop-club Neushoorn can receive funding of about 1 million euros in a 2-year period, that the LF2028 campaign can receive around 500,000 euros, and that various economic affairs programmes can be continued or started.
Money will also be raised by some taxes going up: the hondenbelasting dog-tax, tourist taxes, and construction fees will all be raised to try and generate cash. All of the plans must first be passed by the city council.
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