Will increase the after-school price and close the school – news Vestland

– The municipalities in Norway would not have been in the financial crisis we are experiencing, if we had received the money the state had actually promised and promised us, says finance councilor Jacob Mæhle (H) to news. On Wednesday morning, he presented next year’s budget to the city council in Bergen. The city council proposes cuts, streamlining and income changes totaling NOK 532 million. Nevertheless, the net operating result will be minus NOK 478 million – i.e. in a deficit. Already in 2024, Norway’s second largest municipality could lose NOK 900 million, according to the city council. After several years of good net operating results under previous city councils, it was clear early this year that Norway’s second largest city had to come up with the savings knife already in this year’s budget. The Finance Council asked the city council departments to cut several million kroner, something they have struggled to achieve. Instead, they took money from the savings account. Money problems in schools and kindergartens in particular have received a lot of attention and demonstrations this year. This is the proposal for the Bergen Budget No changes in property tax. Reduce the rates for financial social assistance for adults from March 2025, so that they are on par with the rates in Oslo. Increase the price for a full-day place in SFO for first to third grade by 28 per cent. The price for 4th graders will increase by 10 per cent. Cutting own computer for students at intermediate level. Postponing the construction of a new youth school in Søreide. Close Bergen’s smallest school, Krokeide School in Fana, which has 35 pupils. And close the kindergarten at Trengereid. Varden school will not be expanded. Fyllingsdalen cultural center will be taken away from the investment budget. The Cultural Agency is to be shut down, and the tasks and resources transferred to the Bergen public library. The Cultural School is to continue as its own unit, but will be cut. The housing authority is transferred to the agency for social services. There will be a summer camp for adults with developmental disabilities in Bergen next year as well. But there will be no summer camp for school pupils between 2nd and 7th grade who do not have the opportunity to go on holiday outside the city. Elderly care will be strengthened with NOK 200 million. Among other things, to strengthen the basic staffing at the nursing homes. NOK 350 million more for schools and kindergartens to cover salary and price increases. Go from four to two emergency wards, by closing the district emergency wards in Fana and Loddefjord. Discontinue health centers in Laksevåg and Kringlebotn. The users are followed up by the health center in Familiens hus, or other larger health centres. Cut NOK 45 million in administration and joint functions, through fewer positions and reorganisations. Increase water and sewage charges by an average of 8.9 per cent, equivalent to NOK 656 annually for the “average customer”. Remove electric car discount of 25 per cent for parking in Bygarasjen, Solheimsgarasjen and Nordnesgarasjen. General parking price increase of five percent. Save money by co-locating the Nav offices in Bergenhus and Årstad. Increase the ticket price at the AdO swimming facility. Cut the subsidy to the Bergen church council by NOK 2 million. Cut in the number of bus shed washing from weekly to every other week. Sweeping of Nesttun will be reduced from twice a month to every other month. The cost of footpaths and cycleways will be reduced from monthly to every other month. Remove the discount for electric cars in residential zones, which is currently 25 per cent. This applies to both residents and visitors. Electric car discounts are also to be removed from several parking facilities in the city centre. Many demonstrators turned up before the city council meeting on Wednesday to protest against cuts in the school sector. To the left is school councilor Daniel Hägglund (Frp), who believes that the children are largely shielded in the budget. Photo: Eskil Byrkjeland / news Wanting more from the government Actually, the budget for 2025 should have been presented on 2 October, but was postponed because the city council wanted to see the government’s state budget first. The Finance Board was disappointed. – It is a difficult balancing act when you do not get the money you should have from the state, when we are hit by interest and high electricity prices and many economic downturns at the same time, says Mæhle to news. The Finance Council also points to “nationwide tax failure” as the reason why municipalities around the country have to cut their budgets. – We have not received the money we should have received from the state over many years. Now we are somewhat in the same boat as the rest of Municipality-Norway. And it’s nice to sit in the same boat, but it doesn’t help when the boats are playing, says Mæhle to news. The pavements were full of protesters on Wednesday morning. Photo: Leif Rune Løland / news Criticizes former city council In the financial speech to the city council on Wednesday, he also lashed out at former city council. He says that next year’s budget is “healthier than the previous ones”. – Over time, Bergen municipality has lived beyond its means. In 2022, Bergen spent NOK 1 billion more than we could afford, he says. In the press release about the budget, he writes that “schools, services for the elderly and mental health have been under-budgeted over time”. But he will not touch the property tax. – There are limits to how much property tax we can collect, but no limits to how much the municipality’s expenses can grow, says Mæhle. Finance councilor Jacob Mæhle (H) gives the financial speech for the city council in Bergen. Photo: Eskil Byrkjeland / news Former city council leader, Rune Bakervik (Ap), however, believes that the previous city council did a good job. – I am glad that we had sensible financial management that set aside money for a rainy day. As the Finance Council says, this budget is not sustainable, he says to news. – He says this is a healthier budget than the previous ones, so you guys? – It is, with respect to report, only obvious. We delivered a budget with large plus figures every single year. And in addition, we build up the reserve accounts for Bergen municipality, which they now use, says Bakervik. He believes the budget has “crass, anti-social cuts”, and shows that the Upper City Council is unable to keep what they promised in the municipal election campaign last year. Among other things, he points to the promise to cut property tax more. – It was a big hoax. All their promises from that time will be blown off course with this budget, says Bakervik. Criticism also hails from the rest of the opposition party: Gerd Johanne Braadland / news Per Arne Larsen, Left: The former finance council thinks the budget proposal is “sad reading” and “a real stomach slap”. – Gone are the promises of property tax cuts, more nursing homes and speeding up housing construction, and instead we get increased fees and taxes, the postponement of large and important construction projects and dramatic cuts in kindergartens and schools totaling several hundred million during the period. Simon Skjelvik Brandseth Mikkel Grüner, SV: – Politics is deeply unsocial and unfashionable. It is fitting that this budget comes the day before Halloween, because it should frighten the waters off the Bergensarans. The most frightening thing is that Høgre and Frp cut exclusively because they want to, not because they have to. – They refuse to introduce the one measure that could actually do something about the current situation, namely a more solidary and redistributive property tax. Silje Rognsvåg Thor Haakon Bakke, MDG: – The city council is trying to hide its extraordinary spending for 2024 by submitting it at the same time as the cut budget for 2025. It shows a desperate city council that is using all means to avoid the public spotlight on the lack of financial management. – They have zero control over the budget and no interest in increasing income. They increase traffic, delay the light rail and drop their own climate measures. news Mailiss Solheim-Åkerblom, Raudt: – This is a deeply irresponsible and antisocial budget. While the cut in property tax for the city’s richest and the politicians’ million-dollar salary is spared, children, young people, working people and our common welfare must pay the bill. – Today’s city council must soon have won the NM in blaming the financial citation on others. Instead of taking responsibility and making the necessary political priorities to strengthen common welfare. Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news Trond Tystad, Bergenslisten: Bergenslisten is among the cooperation parties of the city council. – We will present our demands in negotiations with the city council party when these start on Monday. We have already signaled that we will not sell Bergen Kino out of consideration for culture, the Bergen International Film Festival and the film environment. When it comes to investments, we know that we want full development at Christi Krybbe schools. Promises to build nursing homes in the whole municipality The Finance Board emphasizes that he has faith that the municipality will be able to turn a deficit into a surplus. – It is still a budget that will provide lots of activity and good offers in Bergen municipality, he underlines. To news, the city council promises, among other things, to build nursing homes and sports facilities all over the city. I think the school budget is the strength Several kindergartens and schools were present to remind the politicians of the support in the education sector. – The nurseries say that they cannot afford to hire substitutes. Headmasters say they break the law every single day, says Eirik Lilleheil in the Education Association. School councilor Daniel Hägglund believes that next year’s budget is a strengthening of both kindergarten and school. Daniel Hägglund, from the left-wing school board, met Eirik Lilleheil of the Education Association among the demonstrators. Photo: Leif Rune Løland / news – The cuts that are implemented go to non-statutory tasks. The schools and the children are mostly shielded from cuts, says Hägglund to news. At the same time, he is increasing the price of a full-day place in the after-school program (SFO). – We are still at a reasonable level compared to many other municipalities in Norway, says the school board. Several schools turned up to demonstrate before the town council meeting. Photo: Leif Rune Løland / news Published 30.10.2024, at 09.51 Updated 30.10.2024, at 13.19



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