Nordfjord municipality is in a financial crunch Stad municipality is 76 million in the red, but where are they going to cut? In elderly care? In the kindergartens? In the schools? Perhaps in road maintenance or cultural support? In order to find out about these tough cuts, the municipal management needed a working order. Luxury at Sunnmøre They were able to find a meeting room at the town hall at Nordfjordeid. Or they could walk 450 meters to Nordfjord Hotel. Or maybe we were in the old town hall in Selje. Instead, they chose the historic Hotel Union Øye on Sunnmøre. A room there costs from NOK 2,300 to NOK 17,000. Group leader Anfinn Sjåstad for the Progress Party in Stad does not like the spending of money. – It’s a bit unmusical. It is not exactly this that makes our municipal economy bad. But there is a signaling effect. Historic Hotel Union Øye is located in Ørsta municipality in Sunnmøre. Photo: Sissel Brunstad / news Emperors, kings and municipal leaders The hotel from 1891 has previously housed dignitaries such as Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, Kings Oscar II and Haakon VII and Queen Maud, authors Karen Blixen and Arthur Conan Doyle , and adventurers Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen. And now eight municipal tops from Stad. It was Fjordenes Tidende that exposed the case. The price tag for the eight people came to NOK 39,900. Queen Maud (left) and King Haakon VII (right) have both been guests at Hotel Union. Crown Prince Olav (in the middle) was not there. Photo: Anders Beer Wilse / Den kongelige samlinger – We are here to balance the budget and we have to get out of the municipality to have peace of mind, says municipal director Åslaug Krogsæter in Stad municipality to the newspaper. – Are they worried about the signal effect they send when the tenant travels for hotel accommodation to find savings? – It’s not about whether we spend one night in a hotel a year or not. We must have the conditions to do this work. If we don’t leave, we will be continuously disturbed. Every leadership group, also in the surrounding municipalities, does this, Krogsæter replies to Fjordenes Tidende. Municipal director Åslaug Krogsæter i Stad. Photo: news If they do not cut back, they risk being financially blacklisted: – This will not resolve itself. In 2024, we will be in ROBEK if we do not manage to turn the tide, said the municipal director to Fjordenes Tidende. – Do you understand the reactions that have come? – I expect that my colleagues have a great understanding that it is a demanding job to come to a common understanding of what the municipality as a whole, with all its various tasks, must decide when we lack 76 million to maintain current operations, says Krogsæter to news. Did the neighbors go to a hotel? news has asked the neighboring municipalities if they take in hotels in order to have peace of mind in order to balance the budget. They do not have such a practice in Gloppen. Or in Vanylven: – We have been to hotels in other contexts, but not in budget contexts, says municipal director Andreas Nørve. Or in Volda: – We have worked on the autumn budget at the town hall in the leaders’ and daily meetings, says municipal director Rune Sjurgard. Or in Sande: – There has not been a tradition in Sande municipality, says municipal director Anders Norvald Hammer. Or in Bremanger: – We are not in the habit of traveling away. But I have understanding for those municipalities that have major challenges with extensive cuts that need it, says municipal director Tom Joensen. Or in Stryn: – We have not done it in recent years. And I am not aware that it has been done before either, says municipal director Jon B. Nesje. The exclusive bar overlooks the herb garden at Hotel Union Øye. Photo: Solveig Svarstad / news Not even in Ørsta, where Hotel Union Øye is located. – We have never done that. But maybe it’s not so stupid to manage to get together. It might be a good idea, says municipal director Wenche Solheim. – We have never taken the budget process at Hotel Union, but we have been there at other professional gatherings. Will defend tradition But the neighbor to the west has done the same as Stad. In Kinn, municipal director Øyvind Bang-Olsen took four others in the municipal rental to the hotel Knutholmen in Kalvåg for NOK 18,700. Despite the fact that they have received criticism for doing so in the past. – I want to defend this tradition of being able to take breaks during the week to be able to work constructively together. And I feel that we had a sober plan, says municipal director Øyvind Bang-Olsen. – Is it not possible to find work peace at the town hall? – Well then. We do it every day. And we work both evenings and weekends. It is not that we cannot work at the town hall. Every room at Hotel Union Øye is uniquely decorated. This is the blue room. Photo: news
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Municipal leaders took in a historic hotel “to get peace of mind” – news Vestland
