On Thursday, September 21, the municipal council of Doetinchem presented the budget for 2024. The municipal council will continue to invest in qualitative growth in the coming years and will therefore make maximum efforts to achieve the ambitions of the coalition agenda. The basic principle is that we do not spend more than we receive. The 2024 budget therefore contains a balanced package of investments and austerity measures. The municipal council will discuss the 2024 budget on November 2, 2023.
Investing in qualitative growth of the municipality
Finance councilor Henk Bulten on behalf of the council: “We want to continue to grow as a municipality and are therefore investing heavily in the coming years. Consider, for example, the development of the Spoorzone and the city center, the commitment to exercise and meeting in public spaces, strengthening neighborhood-oriented work, a boost for culture and our commitment to sustainable and safe mobility. We are also improving our infrastructure around De Vijverberg stadium (Vijverberg route) and improving the pedestrian tunnel in the De Hoop district.
Green neighborhoods and villages with diverse (housing) offerings
Doetinchem wants to grow to 70,000 inhabitants in order to maintain its facilities in the future
to hold. That is why we develop programming for each district and village. In such a way that our current and future residents – young and old, starters and those moving on, small and large households – can find a place in the housing market with their diversity of lifestyles and housing needs. Greenery is an important value for Doetinchem as a healthy and attractive residential community. To further strengthen this quality, we will be working on a green implementation program in 2024. New residents of Doetinchem can get acquainted with the (history of the) city because they can visit the City Museum for free.
Climate-proof, circular and energy-neutral in 2050
The year 2050 is an important point on the horizon in our pursuit of an energy-neutral built environment. We also want to be climate-proof and circular. We can only succeed in these tasks if we tackle them together with residents and partners. In 2024 we will start with the neighborhood implementation plan in two neighborhoods in Dichteren and with a study into a heating network in Gaanderen. We continue to help residents make their homes more sustainable and their gardens climate-proof. Preparations for the construction of our circular craft center will also start next year.
Space for talent and support for the vulnerable
Everyone should feel truly welcome in our community. Regardless of gender, sexual orientation, religion,
ethnicity, age or disability. People’s talents are given space in Doetinchem and we offer support to vulnerable fellow citizens and villagers, even in times of budget cuts. When providing care and support, the human touch, personal attention and prevention are our starting points. We pay extra attention to prevention before a care need arises and work in a district-oriented manner. We also expressly opt for a strong commitment to health promotion. Strengthening self-reliance remains the key, with the social base in neighborhoods and villages playing an important role.
Tighten the belt
The municipality must close a gap of €9 million to balance the budget for 2024. We have to make sharp choices for this. We will cover a large part of the deficit in the social domain (€4 million of the total €6 million) on a one-off basis from the general reserve. We will save the remaining €2 million by, among other things, making our own (care) processes more efficient and by allowing people to make more use of generally accessible healthcare facilities. In addition, as an organization we are tightening our belts. We are cutting €500,000 on the wage bill of the municipal organization. For both Buha and Buurtplein, these savings per related party amount to €150,000. The savings are further implemented by Buurtplein and Buha as independent BVs. In 2024, we will cut €500,000 in our fixed costs (operating budgets) and we will investigate how we can reduce our subsidies by €750,000 in 2025.”
Balanced package of investments and austerity measures
Councilor Bulten concludes: “These are financially exciting times for our municipality. To remain financially healthy, we must make sharp choices in 2024 and subsequent years, which will unfortunately also be noticeable outside the walls of our city hall. We stand by our ambitions and we are convinced of the importance of keeping them afloat. With a balanced package of investments and measures, we are confident that Doetinchem will continue to grow in quality.”