A cold harvest for Kirkkonummi – weak budget

The government’s mid-term budget session has landed Kirkkonummi with nearly €800,000 in annual losses — significantly narrowing the new council’s room for manoeuvre even before it takes office.

What does the mid-term budget session mean for Kirkkonummi’s finances?

The government’s mid-term budget session does not bode well for Kirkkonummi. The decision that most directly affects the municipality’s finances is the government’s direct cut to state subsidies. Although the cut is not large, in Kirkkonummi’s case it amounts to losses of almost €800,000 on an annual basis. That is roughly what early childhood education for 69 children, basic education for 66 pupils or upper secondary education for 89 students costs per year. In addition to cutting directly from municipalities, the government is also reducing corporate tax, which further reduces the funds available to the municipality.

What investment needs are waiting?

Although previous councils have put the municipality’s finances in good shape — thanks especially to the sale of the wellbeing centre — many additional costs are on the horizon. The costs of the Gesterby school complex, the upper secondary campus and Nissnikun school are only just coming. Kantvik school is waiting to get started and the Masala day-care centres are in need of renovation. At the same time, particularly in early childhood education, there is a shortage of staff, as we are forced to compete with nearby cities for the same skilled workers.

Unfortunately, all of this means that the new council is starting in an extremely unfavourable situation. It will be particularly interesting to see how representatives of the governing parties act at the local level. That is, whether the government’s savings measures are maintained, or whether the costs are transferred from the state budget to the municipal budget and taxation from earned income tax to municipal or property tax.

Education is a long-term success factor

I particularly hope that Kirkkonummi will have the wisdom to look further over the horizon. Finland has risen to its current position with one of the world’s best comprehensive school systems and a high level of educational attainment. Now, however, both are facing cuts, while the educational attainment level of young people has fallen below 40% — specifically to 39% (for comparison, the corresponding figure in Norway is 57%, in Sweden 54%, in Denmark 49%, and even the OECD average is 47%). All of it starts with how municipalities — including Kirkkonummi — take care of comprehensive school and upper secondary education. That is where the vast majority of the municipality’s money goes.

Let us therefore take care of our future, starting today.

I have written more about education: about why education is the municipality’s most important task , about the government’s education cuts and about whether education is under special protection . Read more in my posts on education .

Published in Kirkkonummen Sanomat on 30 April 2025.