Reykjavík councillors face 95 percent increase in cafeteria meal prices

Reykjavík city councillors and deputy councillors are being asked to pay 1,900 Icelandic krónur for meals at the City Hall and Höfðatorf cafeterias, up from 974 krónur, according to mbl.is.

At a meeting of the city council executive committee on Thursday, Mayor Hildur Björnsdóttir also proposed subsidised meal services for low-income older residents. Those whose income falls below a defined threshold would pay 1,500 krónur per meal instead of 1,900.

“We believe it is necessary to protect the lowest-income groups from heavy increases in fees, and therefore propose special subsidies for the lowest-income group,” Hildur said in a statement.

She added that, despite general increases in meal prices for older residents, delivered meals remain less expensive in Reykjavík than in several neighbouring municipalities.

Earlier this week, representatives of the city’s governing majority on the welfare council approved a proposal from the welfare department to raise the price of delivered meals and meals at community centres and service apartments from 1,100 and 1,190 krónur respectively to 1,900 krónur.