EXLOO – The municipality of Borger-Odoorn presented the budget for 2024 on Wednesday afternoon. The municipality sees that there are financial challenges, but can continue to take steps forward. The municipality is doing this, among other things, by starting a study into a new MFA in 2e Exloërmond.
That research costs 50,000 euros and must be completed next summer. The new MFA must have room for the two primary schools, the village hall and football. The village hall is now located in the former canteen of the TEVV football club. Both the village hall and the two school buildings are outdated. “They require a lot of energy,” says councilor Bernard Janssen (Liveable Borger-Odoorn).
In the study, the municipality wants to look at the wishes of all parties and whether they want to participate in the plans for a new MFA. In addition to the village hall and the schools, it must therefore provide space for football. “We now want to solve that problem structurally,” said councilor Ankie van Tongeren (CDA/CU).
Sport
In addition to football in 2e Exloërmond, Borger-Odoorn will also invest in the Borger complex next year. The municipality is allocating 750,000 for a new club building for the local football club. After the Valthermond complex was transferred to the football club this year, the same should happen next year with the Nieuw-Buinen complex. ‘They will then receive an annual housing subsidy of 35,000 euros from us,’ says Van Tongeren.
| Burdens for residents An average household will have to pay 18 euros (an increase of 2.21 percentage points) more for municipal charges next year. According to councilor Henk Zwiep, efforts have been made to limit the increase in costs as much as possible for residents in these financially difficult times. “If you look at inflation, I think we have done well,” Zwiep said. |
Education
Borger-Odoorn also wants to start construction of the first two schools. A total of twelve schools must be renovated before 2035 or they will be built new. Next year, construction of School 59 and OBS 75 in Nieuw Buinen and Buinerveen will start. The schools will continue together under one roof. It is still unclear where the new school will be located. “That investigation should be completed by the end of this year,” Janssen said.
The village of Buinerveen also wants to realize a small indoor sports hall. ‘Both schools have the right to an arcade. We are now looking at whether we can upgrade that slightly to make the village’s wishes possible.’
Living
The municipality is also busy with plans for housing construction. The first 12 of a total of 20 lots must be put on sale in Drouwenermond at the end of December. This concerns a second ribbon behind the Zuiderdiep near restaurant De Gulle Bourgoundiër. The municipality is also busy developing Borger-West. The part better known as the Strijkijzer (area between N374 and Koesteeg). “A large number of homes need to be built there,” said councilor Henk Zwiep (PvdA).
In Nieuw-Buinen, 77 new homes are to be built behind the MFA. ‘It will be a combination of rental and owner-occupied homes, with homes for starters, seniors and also single-family homes,’ says Zwiep. The zoning plan for those homes must be discussed in the municipal council in the first quarter of next year.
In 2e Exloërmond, the municipality, together with Woonservice, is working on a large-scale neighborhood renovation in Anne de Vriesstraat, Middenlaan and Jan Fabriciusstraat. Seventy outdated homes will be demolished and replaced with new construction. ‘That project falls under the testing ground of the Regional Deal and we are all very curious about it.’
Ravine year
All in all, councilor Henk Zwiep is proud of the budget that has been presented. ‘We continue to pay attention to issues such as poverty and social security. At the same time, we are also able to realize a number of great projects.’ However, Zwiep remains cautious about the approaching ‘ravine year’ 2026, in which the government’s contribution will drop drastically. ‘We don’t know what will happen. We have to wait and see what the new cabinet will do.’
The municipality’s plans for 2024 will be discussed by the municipal council on November 9.