The municipality of Coevorden has to do with less money in the coming years, at the same time there are big plans on the agenda. How does the municipality tackle that?
At the end of 2024, the municipality of Coevorden had more than five million euros. That surplus comes to a large extent from plans that were passed on to 2025. In the coming years, the municipality’s budget will be a lot tighter. This is evident from the framework letter that came out this week. In 2029, the municipality of Coevorden expects to be in the minus 343,000 euros. A decline of almost four million in four years.
One of the largest cost items is youth care. As with many other municipalities, a shortage is expected, in the municipality of Coevorden this is around four million euros. The government will compensate for the costs of 2.6 million euros per year in the coming two years. The municipality expects that there will also be compensation afterwards.
Due to the financial deficits, the Focus is on financial stability, cooperation and a sober policy in the coming years. It is therefore intended that the municipality will complete the current plans and no longer new policy will start.
The municipality writes that it has already achieved many goals from the Administrative Agreement. Think of housing, the renewal of the city center and the reception of refugees. In addition, the municipality wants to focus on strengthening the BOCE context (Borger-Odoorn, Coevorden and Emmen) in the coming years.
A number of large files are deliberately not included in the last year of the current board. According to the college, these topics are too large and complex to decide on now. This includes the investment in the Stedelijk Museum, the library and caravan places. Other files are the development of a cultural breeding ground and investing in sports halls and swimming pools. These topics are prepared and investigated, so that the new municipal administration can continue after the 2026 elections.
“We now mainly make room to complete current plans, to keep a grip on our finances and to offer a strong starting point to the next board,” said a spokesperson for the municipality. According to him, the fact that many large files are passed on to the next board does not mean that the municipality is standing still. “We continue to work on major plans such as the Nieuwe Veste and the MFC in Schoonoord.”
On 3 and 8 July 2025 the city council will discuss the framework letter. The final choices will form the basis for the program budget 2026-2029, which will be finalized later this year.