Lolland budget plan puts schools and local services at risk

Lolland Municipality’s new budget plan includes annual savings of up to 173 million kroner by 2030, with schools, care homes and sports halls among the services affected, DR reports.

Mayor Marie-Louise Brehm Nielsen said no local council member wanted to close schools or sports halls, but the municipality faced a rapidly falling number of children, many residents receiving public benefits and a declining population.

She criticised the reduction of 100 million kroner in the municipality’s special grant, asking whether the budget cuts would bring greater equality between rural and urban areas. Lolland received 223 million kroner in special grants this year.

Three sports halls, including Østoftehallen, will no longer receive municipal subsidies. Bo Fremming, chair of Østofte Hillested Handball Club, said the hall had been part of his life for 45 to 46 years and called the decision terrible. He said people living outside Nakskov and Maribo also needed local services.

The savings plan will also close the schools in Østofte and Søllested. Østofte School is due to close in August 2027. Nicolle Kirkegaard-Olsen, a parent of two pupils at the school and chair of its parents’ board, said children should be treated as Lolland’s future.

Esben Nielsen, who leads both schools, said closures would affect small communities where many positive activities take place. Resident Kemal Peskovic said he feared losing local meeting places would make villages less attractive and lead more people to move to larger towns.