One and a half billion in, one and a half billion out. Once again this year, the province has a balanced budget for the coming year. Bottom line, nothing exciting is happening: there is no major shortage and the reserve is substantial. But if you read between the lines, you will see that there are indeed concerns. The road ahead is bumpy due to national unrest and the situation in the world, and will remain so for some time.
At first glance, the province’s financial picture looks as usual. A lot of money goes to traffic and nature, but attention is also paid to reserves. We also see nothing strange with the income. The three largest flows of money come from the reserves, the government and the provincial tax (surcharges) on the motor vehicle tax.
In the coming year, the province plans to spend approximately as much as what comes in: about 1.5 billion euros. This is what the budget looks like:
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To assure
A clear cost picture, it seems. But behind this lie a number of concerns. Nitrogen, the overcrowded power grid, expensive raw materials, lack of space and staff shortages continue to cause problems. This slows down, among other things, housing construction, the construction and maintenance of roads and sustainability. Last month it became apparent that Brabant is not building enough homes this year and the government previously halted several road projects in the province.
In the field of nitrogen and agriculture, the province is dependent on what is decided in The Hague. In recent years, Brabant has continued with its nature and nitrogen policy on its own, because the Schoof-I cabinet swept existing plans and money off the table, but did not offer a good alternative. The province previously called the nitrogen plans ‘insufficient in size, financial coverage and pace’.
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There is also uncertainty about the reception of asylum seekers and the housing of status holders. The outgoing cabinet made plans to scrap the Spread Act. This law stipulates that all municipalities must contribute a fair share to the reception of asylum seekers.
In addition, outgoing Minister of Housing Mona Keijzer (BBB) wants to prohibit municipalities from giving status holders priority over social housing. Municipalities can now decide for themselves who they give priority to.
Money shortage for nature again
As with the previous budget, there is too little money for nature. For example, the costs for fauna tasks and nature management are higher than budgeted. The province is covering these gaps for the time being with its reserve, but wants to discuss the budget with the government. The province also expects money from the government for new tasks as a result of new European nature regulations.
There is insufficient money to shape the so-called ‘transitional areas’ in vulnerable nature. The cabinet previously put an end to this, but Brabant still wants to continue with those plans. Money has now been made available for De Peel, but it is not expected to be nearly enough. Let alone providing all other vulnerable nature in Brabant with a ‘transition area’.
Stiff attitude
During the past two years, Brabant wanted to ‘go ahead’, in its own words, while the cabinet mainly put on the brakes. A province can do that, but not indefinitely.
Characteristic of the past period was perhaps not so much the stiff attitude of Brabant, but that of the (outgoing) cabinet that seemed to do little with the almost constant call from the province to please come up with policy, plans and money.
A new cabinet will have to speed up and come up with solid plans. If it does not do this, Brabant will have to bear the responsibilities that the government is neglecting for a longer period of time.