Service network plan to be decided by the municipal executive
The municipal executive will outline steps for the coming years at its next meeting on 18.5.2026. Decisions include, among other things, the service network plan and the preparation guidelines for next year’s budget and the 2027–2029 financial plan and the framework calculations included in them.
In preparing the 2027 budget, the latest municipal economy forecasts from the Ministry of Finance, the Local Government Association’s tax forecasts, and information on state subsidies and wage settlements, which will be specified during the autumn, will be used. As the basis for preparing the budget, it is proposed to keep the municipal income tax rate at the current 8.9 percent. No increases are proposed to property taxes. The goal is that the balance sheet would still show accumulated surplus after the planning period and that the deficit years that began in 2025 will turn positive. The municipality’s finances will be sought to be brought to annual balance.
Chief executive Riikka Moilanen notes that the economic operating environment remains challenging.
– We must carefully assess expenditures and investments while taking care of the municipality’s vitality and the functionality of services. The effects of the 2026 austerity decisions are beginning to show, but they alone are not yet sufficient to achieve balanced finances. The aim of the framework is to create a realistic and long-term basis for decision-making and to secure the municipality’s financial stability in the coming years as well.
The budget proposals of the municipal bodies will be completed by the end of September 2026, the municipal executive will consider the budget at the end of October and will make a proposal to the municipal council no later than 27.10.2026. The municipal council will decide the tax rates for 2027 and approve the budget and the financial plan at its meeting on 16.11.2026.
A more moderate scenario is proposed for the service network plan
The service network plan, which has been prepared since last spring, has progressed to decision-making. The service network plan 2026-2040 guides the development of the municipality’s services, premises and investments over the long term. The aim of the plan is to adapt the service network to demographic changes, declining pupil numbers and economic challenges.
The plan compares two scenarios to the current service network, of which scenario 1 is proposed to the municipal executive and further to the municipal council for implementation until 2030. Scenario 1 is based on a more moderate consolidation of the service network than the second scenario. In the scenario, the municipality concentrates services and reduces properties in a controlled way. The goal is to reduce operating costs and repair backlog without very large service cuts.
– The service network plan is being made so that we can ensure high-quality and accessible services for residents also in the future. Demographic development, economic constraints and changes in service needs require that we consider the service network as a whole in a long-term and responsible way. The aim is to find solutions that support both residents’ everyday lives and the municipality’s vitality, says chief executive Riikka Moilanen.
Ilves nature school is receiving funding
It is proposed to the municipal executive that the municipality use an inheritance of 91,836€ to fund the Ilves nature school in 2026-2028.
The Ilves nature school started operations in 2023, but this academic year it has had no lessons.
The inheritance funds will be allocated mainly to the nature school’s teacher salary costs, with the remainder for equipment purchases and other expenses. During the two years more information will be obtained on the impact of the nature school activities and the prerequisites for continuation. The concept and implementation of the nature school will be further developed so that it emphasizes nature-based exercise, community and strengthening children’s and young people’s resilience even more. The activities will be expanded to also include lower secondary school students.
Upper secondary school to be taken into further preparation
The municipal executive must also decide whether to start preparations to transfer responsibility for arranging upper secondary education. In the study carried out with the Tavastia education consortium, the merger was found to have clearly more benefits than disadvantages. Some savings would also be generated, but above all the change would bring synergies, strong support for the development of upper secondary education, broader cooperation opportunities for teachers and a wider selection of courses for students.
The municipal executive’s agenda in full. (In Finnish)