Vantaa parties split over taxes and budget cuts

Vantaa’s largest council groups broadly support the city manager’s budget proposal for next year, but differ over tax rises and spending cuts, Yle reports.

The National Coalition Party welcomes the proposal’s decision not to raise taxes. Group chair Heli Hakala said the city should first continue other measures to balance its finances. She said savings should be monitored and further adjustments made if needed. The party is not proposing extra funding for any particular service, and wants to boost revenue by making Vantaa more attractive to businesses.

Social Democratic Party group chair Soile Eriksson also considers the proposal a step in the right direction. She said it supports the goal of balancing the city’s finances, but noted that high unemployment continues to weigh on the budget. She said the party would want to ensure that education and early childhood services remain secure, but is waiting for more detailed figures before commenting on individual departments.

The Greens broadly support the proposal but oppose continued cuts without thorough assessments of their effects, particularly on children and young people. Group chair Tia Seppänen pointed to potential savings from improving the energy efficiency of city properties and reducing how often green spaces are mown. The party has also proposed considering a modest tax increase to protect services for children and young people.

The Left Alliance’s Antero Eerola called the proposal a major disappointment. He said it relied on large-scale layoffs and criticised city manager Pekka Timonen for not proposing a tax increase. Eerola said a temporary, modest rise in municipal tax could have helped the city through its difficulties. He also rejected Timonen’s view that Vantaa had passed the worst of its financial problems, citing severe unemployment.

The Finns Party would prefer savings from areas including the city leadership and increased funding for schools.