This week the municipality of Östhammar clubbed its budget for 2020. The municipality needs to save as a result of recent years' cost increases. In the budget, the municipality does not push for any new funds for the exploitation of industrial or residential land.
- Right now we can't exploit at the rate we want, and haven't been able to do so for some time, says Tony Wahlberg, chief financial officer of Östhammar Municipality.
Do you see a risk that the municipality will receive reduced tax revenue if, for example, more housing cannot be exploited so that people move to the municipality?
- If the municipality receives reduced growth, that means that tax revenue will decrease, says Tony Wahlberg.
New production worst hitThe type of exploitation affected is building permits for new construction that are affected by the municipal water or sewerage network. The reason is the municipality's problems with both groundwater levels and capacity in the treatment plants.
- It is a problem while we try to see opportunities. We look at how the municipality's existing properties can be utilized and how we can exploit in the countryside - an area that is not affected in the same way, says Ulf Andersson, community building manager at Östhammar Municipality.
In Alunda there are areas where detailed plans have been adopted by the municipality - and therefore it could be started already today - but where the water shortage stops.
- Our hope is that the cranes will be able to rotate there in the autumn of 2021, says Ulf Andersson.
In the clip above you can hear the CFO and the social director about the situation.