A ‘big cleaning’. In this way De Wolden describes the financial course for the coming years. The municipality wants to raise more money from residents and at the same time save on its own expenses, because the money flow from The Hague is in danger of taking further.
For next year there is the assignment to close a gap of more than 4.5 million euros. And that is possible by, among other things, increasing the real estate tax (OZB), De Wolden thinks. From next year it has to be raised by 40 euros per household.
This is apparent from a financial view of the municipality. More than four tons can be picked up with the increase. De Wolden hopes to be more in line with the amount of OZB in surrounding municipalities, but states that the amount still remains relatively low.
Another way to win money is to boost the tourist tax. It rises by 45 cents to 1.75 euros per night. At the bottom of the line that delivers 132,000, De Wolden expects.
Furthermore, it is also considered to be sharper with your own expenses. The municipality writes ‘sharper on the wind’. For example, a number of cuts are planned. De Wolden then looks at a number of social regulations in the municipalities. For example, there are agreements with the GGD to make speech therapy (language development) accessible to everyone. For example in schools.
Cuts are being made on part of that work. Costs are also saved by looking at youth care stricter. By looking for first appropriate help, so that young people do not immediately receive a reference to a specific healthcare provider.
In addition, similar cuts are added. In total, De Wolden expects to be able to save more than 130,000 euros per year.
And so there are several cutbacks that are planned for next year. In combination with increasing a number of things, such as the OZB and the tourist tax. De Wolden expects to find 3.5 million euros for the gap.
That means that a million must be found somewhere. The plan is to remove that from the municipal piggy bank, because De Wolden still has some fat on the bones, writes the municipal administration.
Ultimately, local politics still have to give approval for all measures. The debate on this is planned for the summer.