According to the Government, the equalization proposal should give more money to sparsely populated areas. That in order to get more equal welfare throughout the country. But according to a compilation made by the municipality of Umeå, the municipalities of Västernorrland, Jämtland, Västerbotten and Norrbotten will eventually lose millions.

There are both winners and losers in the municipalities in the four northernmost counties; 33 municipalities receive 1.3 billion in cost equalization, while the eleven remaining pay 1.7 billion. In total, Norrland municipalities pay 400 million more than they receive.

This can be compared to the Stockholm region where 21 municipalities receive 2.8 billion and five of them pay 1.2 billion. The Stockholm region thus makes a profit of 1.6 billion. All according to Umeå municipality's compilation.

City towards sparsely populated

The difference could be explained by Stockholm's many densely populated, socio-economically weak areas that receive extra funding. But that municipalities in the north such as Örnsköldsvik and Timrå, which to a large extent consist of sparsely populated areas, still have to pay for the equalization, upset municipal representatives in the north.

"A little more equal"

In the government's investigation A little more similar - review of the cost equalization for municipalities and county councils, there are calculations on how the proposal beats in different municipalities.

It shows that in Västernorrland it is the coastal municipalities; Sundsvall, Timrå and Örnsköldsvik losing state grants - a total of 110 million. In return, Kramfors, Ånge, Sollefteå and Härnösand receive an additional allocation of 85.6 million.

The municipalities of Västernorrland thus lose a total of just over 24 million.

The figures are taken from the government's investigation, they apply to the conditions that prevailed in 2018 and will be adjusted.