Bruges adjusts budget due to inflation and high energy costs

The city council in Bruges calls the budget change very drastic.

The corona crisis has already cost Bruges 50 million euros extra. And now high inflation and the energy crisis are added to this. The city is therefore adjusting its budget. Mercedes Van Volcem, alderman for finance Bruges: “What we have to do now against inflation and energy cost increases has a very big impact because half of our budget is personnel costs. If we now calculate everything in unforeseen expenses, that is 55 million euros.”

Many governments are having a hard time, including Bruges

Personnel costs also increased by almost 40 million euros. Bruges immediately freezes all recruitments of new staff for this year. Dirk De fauw, mayor of Bruges: “We have one after the other. One setback after another. It makes it difficult for all governments, including our city of Bruges, to make ends meet.”

And there is more. There will also be higher accommodation taxes, higher ticket prices in museums and more expensive parking fees in Bruges. And sometimes it gets cold in the office. “The energy costs have now been estimated at 6.6 million euros. In order to limit this, it has been decided that we use 19 degrees in the buildings to come to work, which is actually not so nice.”