West Maas en Waal Municipality Continues to Invest Despite Financial Challenges
The “ executive board ” (Financial Report) from the mayor and aldermen of West Maas en Waal presents a balanced budget for 2027. Municipalities throughout the Netherlands are facing major financial challenges due to rising costs and insufficient funding from the national government. Thanks to a sound financial foundation and sufficient reserves, the municipality of West Maas en Waal will be able to continue investing in public services, safety, and quality of life for its residents in 2027 as well.
A structurally balanced budget
"With this budget, we are demonstrating that we have our affairs in order, even in financially challenging times," said Sylvia Fleuren, finance Alderman . "We have been able to do this in part because we have managed our funds carefully in recent years. At the same time, we see that municipalities are being assigned more and more responsibilities, often without sufficient funding to support them. That is why it is very important for the national government to provide municipalities with better structural support."
Increased Demand for Care and Support
The costs of youth care and support provided under the Wmo (Social Support Act) are a major expense. An increasing number of residents need care and support. In addition, requests for assistance are often complex, and specialized assistance is required more frequently.
Partly due to population growth, the number of children and young people who need intensive support or specialized care is also increasing. Demand is also rising under the Wmo, for example for assistive devices, support services, and home modifications.
The municipality continues to closely monitor the demand for care and invest in quality care and support. One positive outcome is that wait times at VraagWijzer have been significantly reduced. As a result, residents can get help more quickly with their questions and support needs.
Investing in Infrastructure and Accessibility
In 2027, the municipality will continue to invest in buildings and roads. The goal is for every village to have a high-quality, accessible, and future-proof community center, school building, sports facilities, and other amenities for residents. In addition, the municipality will allocate extra funds for road maintenance in the coming years. This will ensure that the villages remain easily accessible and that the quality of the roads is maintained.
Extra Focus on Safety
The municipality continues to invest in a safe living environment. For example, it is making additional efforts to prevent and combat crime, increase residents’ resilience, and improve safety in public spaces.
Looking Ahead with Confidence
With this budget, the “ executive board ” is striking a healthy balance between investment and responsible financial management. Thanks to prudent financial policies in recent years, there is room to continue making necessary investments.
"The challenges are significant, but we remain committed to investing in our residents, our facilities, and our living environment. In this way, we are working together to build a strong, safe, and future-proof West Maas en Waal," concludes Alderman Sylvia Fleuren.
Municipal council 's turn
The Municipal Executive ( municipal council ) will discuss the budget on October 28 and make a decision on November 4. The budget provides insight into the municipality’s financial situation and its plans for the coming year.