In 2011, things were bad in Bø in Vesterålen. Deficits over several years, which they were unable to cover, brought them onto the Robek list. Now the recent municipal index from Agenda Kaupang shows that the situation has been completely turned upside down. Bø, which was almost in ruins ten years ago, has done a lot since then. Among other things, they attracted wealth to the village by cutting property tax. The report shows which municipalities have the lowest costs, best quality and which are overall best managed. The changes in the municipality have obviously produced results. Bø lands in third place among the best-governed municipalities. – Very happy. It has not been many years since we were on the Robek list. But we are still not there, and we are working on a lot to make things better, says mayor Sture Pedersen to news. He also promises more “stunts” in the future. Finally money on the books The mayor, who was elected in 2007, remembers well that there were blood-red figures in the accounts. Now Pedersen can look back on a decade in which they have reversed the trend. – We have been very focused on financial management and get paid for it. I will not hide the fact that a number of major measures have been taken, including taxation, says the mayor. – Perhaps we have received some positive attention about it, but we should also mention that we have many companies that have delivered good results in Bø. Sture Pedersen, mayor of Bø in Vesterålen. Photo: Tone Marit Sørensen He emphasizes that it is also about not trading on credit. – We cannot spend more than we have. Now we also have money on the books. – You have done quite a bit of pranking. Is that the key? – We have really done some “stunts”, and we will continue to do so. Wealth tax was one thing, but now we do a lot for families with children. Last autumn, Pedersen came out with the news that a family with children can at best “earn” 510,000 living in Bø. – I think we currently have among the country’s cheapest nurseries. In addition, we provide grants for births. We are still struggling with a decline in population, but this summer many family members have moved to Bø. It is very gratifying. Economic giant Nordland also takes second place on the list of well-governed municipalities. Lurøy municipality is only beaten by Gjerdrum. The 20 best-governed municipalities in Norway Gjerdrum Lurøy Bø Sandefjord Klepp Hå Krødsherad Vestre Slidre Bjerkreim Andøy Nannestad Kvinnherad Jevnaker Aurskog-Høland Nes Rendalen Masfjorden Løten Gjesdal Sigdal Mayor Håkon Lund tells Rana Blad that it is great that they come out favourably. At the same time, he stresses that they have governed well over many years. – There are of course challenges in other areas, but when it comes to financial management there has been good cost control and management over a long period of time. It is also nothing new and in the municipal report in March it was written “Lille Lurøy is an economic giant”. A profitable farming industry is important for Lurøy municipality, says the mayor. Photo: Jon-Petter Antonsen Willing to take advantage of the fact that it is cheap to live in the north The latest spree in Bø involved, among other things, that births in the municipality would give money into the account. It is still too early to say whether this has had an effect on the population. – After all, it takes nine months before births occur, so it is a bit early, says Pedersen. But cheaper kindergartens, which were also part of the attraction, may have already paid off. During the summer, several families have moved to Bø, says Sture Pedersen. Photo: Vidar Nordli-Mathisen – Registration at the school shows that four or five families have moved here. None of them have less than three children. Now Pedersen hopes to take even more advantage of the fact that it is cheaper to live in northern Norway. – We think there will be an effect from the fact that it is cheaper than in the south. It can drip all over northern Norway. It’s an interesting angle that I’m working on how to get out in a good way.
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Agenda Kaupang shows that Norway’s Monaco is well managed – news Nordland
