West Maas en Waal maintains its course, but adjustment is needed

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The Municipality of West Maas en Waal concludes the year 2023 with a surplus. This additional financial buffer will be more than necessary in the coming years. An anticipated increase in expenditures in the coming years necessitates choices to maintain a sound course.

Positive result 

On behalf of the executive board, Alderman Evert Jan Slootweg explains: “We concluded the year positively with approximately 3 million. This is primarily due to the sale of land to project developers. Furthermore, several projects have been postponed or are taking longer because it is challenging to find staff to execute them. As a result, we have retained funds, which we will need to cover the high costs in the coming years.” Recently, there has been much discussion about the costs of properties for Ukrainians in West Maas en Waal. “A portion of the surplus from the general reserves is now being allocated for this purpose,” the Alderman clarifies. “These temporary additional costs are very unfortunate, but they do not define the financial challenges of the coming years.”

Increase in spending

All municipalities will face higher expenses in the coming years due to inflation. These expenses are also rising due to increased demand for healthcare and support services. At the same time, municipalities are receiving less funding from the national government. “The national government demands a lot from municipalities but is rather stingy with the resources it provides in return. We want the money to go hand in hand with the responsibilities,” Evert-Jan Slootweg summarizes. “We will certainly make that point heard in The Hague as well.”

Making choices to stay on course 

“We always ensure that our revenue matches our expenditures. Given rising costs, we therefore have to make choices. The challenge is to achieve as many of our goals as possible with fewer resources. In the coming period, we will discuss this with the organization and the municipal executive,” continues Evert Jan Slootweg. “We’re reviewing our expenditures: what can be improved, done differently, or made more efficient. We’re also scrutinizing all our plans: are they realistic, and can we perhaps spread them out over several years? We’ll also be examining our revenue. We’ll present the final proposal to the council,” the Alderman .

A Look Ahead in the Spring Budget Report

The Spring Report provides an overview of the municipality’s financial situation, current developments, and plans for the coming years.

municipal council will municipal council have its say

The 2023 annual report and the 2024 Spring Memorandum will be presented to the municipal council. The council will make a decision on these matters at its meeting on July 4.