The city has to borrow to cover compulsory expenditure. The council discussed the financial situation at a spring seminar.
The economic situation in the Gulf will plunge sharply next year. According to current calculations, next year’s deficit will be EUR 68 million. The annual budget will also be negative, which means that Lahti will have to take on debt to cover current expenditure.
– Unfortunately, this forecast has been brought forward to the point where the debt will be incurred as early as next year. It will be caused by rising spending, i.e. inflation and the wage settlement,” says Mörsky.
Every effort is being made to close the deficit, but it is a difficult equation. Mörsky says that we now need to think carefully about the city’s spending structure and the quality and scope of services.
– We have to think about our activities and the income from the group. In addition, we have to think about how we can increase tax revenues with vitality investments. And one more way is to think about whether tax increases should still be considered.
The main focus of the two-day council seminar is on the economy, but vitality issues and the green transition are also discussed in Malski’s Sammiosal.
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