Køge budget protects schools and day-care centres from closures

Køge Municipality will not close any schools or day-care centres during the next four years, Danish broadcaster DR reported. The unanimous municipal council reached the agreement on a new budget on Wednesday evening.

The council had to identify savings of 65 million kroner next year and 100 million kroner from 2028.

Among the proposals under consideration were closing day-care centres or reducing cleaning in care homes by five minutes a week.

Instead, the agreement includes 25 million kroner for modernising primary schools. Most of the savings will come from the municipality’s administration.

Mayor Ken Kristensen of the Liberal Party said protecting families with children had been a top priority for all members of the municipal council.

“We know how much it means to a family with children if their day-care centre closes, or if the school in a small local community closes. Therefore, it has been a top priority for all members of the municipal council to say: We will not support that,” he said.