Population growth in the action zone in Nord-Troms and Finnmark – news Troms and Finnmark

The case in summary: The tiltak zone, which includes all municipalities in Finnmark and seven municipalities in Nord-Troms, is also experiencing an increase in population for the first time since 2018. Karlsøy municipality in Nord-Troms is experiencing an increase in population for the first time in many years, a lot thanks to the introduction of free kindergartens. Many of the parents commute to Tromsø, while the children go to the free municipal kindergarten in Karlsøy. In addition to free kindergartens, the settlement of refugees has contributed to population growth. Karlsøy settled 30 refugees last year, mainly Ukrainian women and children. Although free kindergartens and the settlement of refugees have contributed to population growth, experts believe that it is too early to say whether these measures alone will have a lasting effect. The county mayor in Troms, Kristina Torbergsen, believes that several measures are necessary to ensure an increase in the population in North Troms and Finnmark in the long term. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s ​​journalists before publication. The snow descends over Gamnes. A small village less than an hour’s drive from Tromsø in Karlsøy municipality in Nord-Troms. The snow fills the play stands and hides the tracks around them, from little feet that have been walking around the small fenced playground outside the nursery all morning. Now it’s meal time. More and more new children are filling up the clothes pegs and taking places around the dining tables in the small nursery. For the first time in many years, Karlsøy municipality is experiencing an increase in the population. – It is great that more and more young families are coming here, establishing themselves and buying houses. Eventually, children come, and we greatly appreciate that, says the manager of Gamnes kindergarten, Tove Eliassen. For the first time in six years, the population in the measure zone is increasing. The action zone covers all municipalities in Finnmark as well as seven municipalities in Nord-Troms. For the first time, since 2018, the population is increasing overall in the entire area. In 2023, the population increased in 18 out of 25 municipalities. Apart from resident refugees, the population also increased in 11 out of 25 municipalities. In Gamnes kindergarten in Karlsøy municipality, one hour’s drive outside Tromsø, the kindergarten is about to fill up. Commuters to the city Tove Eliassen is responsible for running the smallest of two daycare centers on Ringvassøya in Karlsøy. In the kindergarten in the municipal center at Hansnes, a 20-minute drive north, it’s completely tasteful. Over the past year, she has noticed a clear increase in new children applying to her nursery as well. – We are getting more and more people looking for their children here. The development is going in the right direction, says Eliassen. Tove Eliassen is manager of Gamnes kindergarten in Karlsøy municipality. Photo: Aurora Ytreberg Meløe / news She herself thinks it is too early to say whether the initiative with free kindergarten places alone has had an effect. – I think, when this becomes more widely known, it can have a big effect, she says. The village is close to Tromsø, but land and houses are cheaper than in the city. Eliassen believes the proximity to the largest city in northern Norway makes the village attractive. – It is only 45 minutes by car from here to Tromsø. That in itself makes it attractive. Graphics: news This is the action zone The aim of the action zone is to create an attractive region to live, work and run businesses in. To gain access to the measures, you must live AND work in a municipality in Finnmark and/or in one of the municipalities in Nord-Troms. Allan Klo / news The companies do not pay employer’s tax In Norway, all companies pay 14.1 percent employer’s tax. For 2023, the exemption applies for wage costs up to NOK 750,000. Savings per full-year workplace: NOK 75,000. Simen Meistad Hermansen You get your student loan written off Student loan write-off with up to 20 percent of the original loan base, capped at NOK 30,000 per year. If you work as a primary school teacher, you can have a further NOK 20,000 written off per year. Savings: 30-50 NOK 000 per year Stig Morten Waage You pay no electricity tax Throughout northern Norway there is an exemption from VAT on electricity. In the measure zone, the electricity tax is also waived. Savings: Between 9.51 and 15.44 øre per kWh estimated at NOK 2,000 per year. Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news You pay less tax The tax on ordinary income is 22 per cent in 2024, in the measure zone it is 18.5 per cent. Estimated savings for an average salary of NOK 550,000: Between NOK 15-20,000 per year. Aurora Ytreberg Meløe / news You don’t pay for a kindergarten placeFree kindergarten was introduced from 1 August 2023Estimated savings NOK 33,000 per child per year. Ukrainian refugees settle According to figures from Statistics Norway (SSB), the population in Karlsøy increased by 66 people. Of those, the municipality also settled 30 refugees, according to figures from the Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDI). The vast majority of refugees who settle in Troms and Finnmark are Ukrainian women and children. In the entire measure zone, the population increased by 1,064 people. In the same period, the municipalities in Nord-Troms and Finnmark settled 1,017 refugees. Thus, the population in the action zone also increased independently of refugees, in contrast to Troms and Nordland. In addition to Karlsøy and Kvænangen in North Troms, the population increased in the urban municipalities of Alta, Vadsø and Sør-Varanger in Finnmark, even when the settlement figures are not included. Nils Aarsæther is an expert in local community development and has worked with educating community planners in Northern Norway for several decades. Photo: Erik Waagbø / news – A good number of Ukrainians will move home Professor of social planning at UiT – Norway’s Arctic University, Nils Aarsæther, believes it is still too early to rejoice: – There has been a large emigration from Nord-Troms and Finnmark In recent years. Especially from young people who apply to the cities to get an education, he says. The Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022, and the subsequent flow of refugees, has now had a major effect in Nord-Troms and Finnmark. – The refugees who are distributed around the country by the state make a very important contribution to stabilizing the population right now, confirms Aarsæther. At the same time, he believes that one must be careful in believing that Ukrainian refugees alone will save Bygde-Norge from the wave of elderly people that has hit, especially in northern Norwegian communities. – We have had previous examples of large groups of refugees from developing countries who came to Finnmark, and who have suddenly disappeared overnight, says Aarsæther. He believes that betting everything on refugees can therefore be a double-edged sword: – If the war in Ukraine ends, a good number of Ukrainians will move back again, he believes. Kristina Torbergsen is a former county council leader in Troms and Finnmark, and now county mayor in Troms. She comes from Skjervøy municipality in the action zone. Photo: Eskild Johansen / news – Everyone’s likes are important to us The county mayor of Troms, Kristina Torbergsen (Ap), believes that an increase in the population in the measure zone is welcome anyway. Whether it comes naturally, or as a result of an increase in Ukrainian refugees. – Everyone is an equal resident here in the north. Now Ukrainian refugee children ensure that the kindergartens and schools in Troms and Finnmark are filled. – We are happy for all the residents who come, and everyone is important to us, emphasizes the county mayor. In 1970, Karlsøya, in Karlsøy municipality, was at the center of the fight against the depopulation of the districts. At the same time, she believes that the increase in population growth in Karlsøy is to a greater extent connected with free kindergarten places and proximity to Tromsø: – In Karlsøy, they have been good at promoting free kindergartens, the short distance to the labor market in Tromsø, the write-down of student loans and other opportunities the initiative zone provides, says Torbergsen. The population in Karlsøy municipality increased from 2,171 inhabitants in 2023, to 2,237 at the turn of the year in 2024. Photo: Aurora Ytreberg Meløe At the same time, she believes that more measures are needed to ensure an increased population in Nord-Troms and Finnmark in the long term. Kristina Torbergsen believes that the state and the municipalities must find more measures that can ensure that people remain in the local communities. – We see that the emigration is large, compared to how many people move to the region. So it is important that those who are already here are given good reasons to stay, she concludes. Gamnes kindergarten in Karlsøy municipality is approved for 30 places and still has the capacity to accept more children. Photo: Aurora Ytreberg Meløe / news – People are coming back In Gamne’s kindergarten lunchtime is over. A few more hours, then mothers and fathers appear at the gate after the end of the working day to collect their little ones. It can quickly become even more crowded during drop-off and pick-up of kindergarten children in the coming years. The municipality needs more and more people to fill vacant positions. Across the municipality, there are 12 vacant teaching positions, both permanent and temporary, at schools, childcare centers and adult education in the municipality. In addition, they also lack child and youth workers in kindergartens in the municipality. Tove Eliassen experiences that more and more old co-residents are returning to the municipality to start families. – We also see that people who have moved from the municipality come back with their families, she says, and adds that she hopes there will be many more. – May even more families find their way here to Karlsøy. They are all welcome, concludes Tove Eliassen.



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