Menen is not scrapping major investments and is even building a new sports hall
In contrast to many other cities and municipalities, Menen is not scrapping major investments such as the Leie works or the reconstruction of Lauweplaats. However, the extra costs for personnel and energy run high, up to 17.3 million euros. But the city council speaks of some financial windfalls. Mieke Syssauw, alderman of finance: “We may register more income from personal income tax than anticipated. And we may also provide more income from property tax. We can also count on increased income from the Flemish and federal government. On the revenue side, the situation is better than initially foreseen.”
Menen says that taxes will not rise, and no staff should leave. Thanks to the new sustainable residential care centres, they save a lot on energy, and public lighting also goes out earlier. But the city council remains vigilant. “It is indeed a matter of time to see which way it will go. But we have already included a number of factors in this multi-year plan. We have already calculated a surcharge for a number of investments. As far as the loan burden and the loans still to be taken out are concerned, we have calculated that they will be at a higher interest rate than originally thought.
New volleyball hall on the Vaubansporthal site
Soon there will also be a new sports hall for all volleyball clubs in Menen, and therefore also for Decospan, which plays in the highest league. Then no total renovation of the outdated building. Renaat Vandenbulcke, alderman for patrimony: “We first started with adapting the VIP lounge and changing rooms. But when we wanted to start on the hall, it turned out to be not high enough. So we had to adjust our plans. The new The plan is to demolish the current hall and build a completely new hall for the volleyball clubs in Menen, on the site of the old Vauban sports hall.”
The demolition will start after this season, the works will take a year. It is not yet clear where Decospan Menen can go in the meantime.