Lolland budget deal closes schools and cuts public services

Lolland Municipality will save a net 53 million kroner next year, with annual savings rising to 173 million kroner by 2030, under a budget deal that closes schools and reduces services. DR reported that nearly all proposed cuts will go ahead, despite almost 1,000 pages of consultation responses from residents and municipal employees.

The agreement parties say the cuts are needed after years of population decline, significant social problems and a municipal equalisation system they say does not provide enough support.

Østofte School and Søllested School are due to close, with pupils moving to schools in Maribo and Nakskov from August 2027. Byskovskolen and Stormarkskolen in Nakskov will also merge from that month.

The municipality plans to apply for 20 million kroner a year from 2027 to 2030 under a government fund worth 500 million kroner, announced to help financially pressured municipalities keep schools open. If Lolland receives confirmation by 1 March 2027 that it will get the funding, the school closures will be reconsidered.

The cuts also close Skovsgårdsvej daycare centre in Nakskov. Havørnen forest kindergarten will move from Holeby and become part of Møllebakken daycare centre in Østofte. The changes will save just over 26 million kroner a year from 2028.

Over the next 10 years, older residents will be concentrated in three new care centres in Nakskov, Maribo and Rødby, while a number of smaller care centres will close. The municipality will decide which ones to shut in the first half of 2027.

Care homes will also stop providing wine, spirits, beer and soft drinks on special occasions. Older people receiving care at home will have their homes cleaned every three weeks instead of every two. The changes are expected to save 33 million kroner a year from 2030.

Fejø, Femø and Askø will be served by two ferries instead of the current service, with fewer departures. Plans to buy new electric ferries have been put on hold. The municipality proposes discussions with the state about transferring all ferry operations to the state to secure future green ferry services.

The budget sets aside 1.1 million kroner for extra ferry services during holiday peaks and special events on the islands. The islands’ contact council and ferry staff will decide how and when to use the extra services. The ferry changes will save 8.5 million kroner a year.

Østoftehallen, Rødbyhavn Sportshal and Svanevigcentret will no longer be run by the municipality from next summer. Residents and users will be consulted about whether they want to take over running and maintaining the sports halls.

Søllested Bio will lose its municipal operating grant from 2028, while local archives and library services will be brought together in fewer locations. These measures will save 2.8 million kroner in 2028 and 3.4 million kroner a year in 2029 and 2030.

Some proposed cuts have been dropped or delayed. Savings on continuing exercise for older people have been removed, while a planned cut to the palliative care doctor service has been postponed until 2028 to allow time to establish a new arrangement with the region.

The municipality will retain the two-adult scheme in the first years of school, as well as junior clubs and SFO2 after-school provision. It will also maintain funding for Headspace and Familieringen. Cuts to family and alcohol services have been removed, and the planned closure of Skomagerens Hus, a drop-in centre in Rødby, has been postponed until 2028 while the municipality seeks a social organisation to run it.

The agreement was backed by the Social Democrats, Din Stemme, Venstre, the Conservatives, the Socialist People’s Party, Lokallisten Lolland and Allan Blak. The Danish People’s Party, the Denmark Democrats and the Red-Green Alliance are not part of the deal.