Hoogeveen faces a major challenge. Recent research has shown that the municipality will have to invest an additional three million euros in the maintenance of municipal real estate over the next four years. Money they don’t have right now.
The increase in costs is due to many buildings that are considerably outdated, the municipality says. Maintenance costs therefore continue to grow every year. An inspection is also carried out every four years, but due to budget cuts in recent years, the last inspection was in 2016.
The price increases in construction costs and materials also play a role. Hoogeveen is also struggling with a staff shortage to carry out maintenance on time.
It concerns a total of 94 buildings owned by Hoogeveen. In particular, district, community and village houses, cultural buildings, the swimming pool and the fire station. The municipality must therefore find out whether money can be found in the future to carry out these tasks. If not, it is possible that the maintenance will be postponed.
Another option is to dispose of part of the buildings to reduce costs, but the municipality does not like that. “This is hardly possible for indoor sports accommodations because of the municipal duty of care for housing physical education”, a letter from the college states.
Several buildings are in the picture for replacement. It is not yet clear what that plan will look like. “Up to the moment a decision has been made on a replacement investment, maintenance will be carried out at the determined condition level for maintenance.”