Stockholm wants to pause money for sparsely populated areas

- It will be a far too heavy burden for the Stockholmers to bear. We are requesting a break, says the Financial Region Council Irene Svenonius (M).

- We are severely affected and in the midst of a pandemic, she says.

The Financial Region Council is talking about getting relief in the national equalization system where money is redistributed from richer to poorer regions. The big winners of the system are sparsely populated regions, while Stockholm is the only region that loses money as a whole.

- It is unreasonable for us as a single region to carry the entire equalization system on our shoulders when at the same time we have to repay a medical debt and get the economy settled, says Irene Svenonius.

In addition, the capital region needs to raise even more money than before, after a part of the equalization system was redone on 1 January. The Stockholm region receives grants over a three-year period to alleviate the transition, but for each year the grant is reduced.

In the requirement to the government, the region wants to keep the grant at the same level for all three years, or that the state instead goes in with the money that Stockholm may otherwise spend.

- We have had the biggest outbreak of covid-19, huge costs, huge loss of revenue and we see that the financial impact of covid-19 will land upwards of ten billion for us in two years, says the Financial Region Council.

What do you do if the government does not agree to the requirement?

- Then we simply have to relate to the financial framework we have. There is no other alternative. Then we have to make even tougher priorities, says Svenonius.

The Financial Region Council does not want to go into exactly what will be prioritized if the government fails to meet the region. However, she points out that it will be more difficult to manage the care debt, that is, all care that has been postponed during the pandemic.

- Of course, there is a concern on my part about the care debt, says Irene Svenonius.

Several trade union representatives have flagged that Stockholm's healthcare debt is difficult to pay off, while large savings are being made. Requirements have therefore come to a halt to the efficiency improvements that have meant notice and termination of employment at several hospitals.

Irene Svenonius, on the other hand, believes that the region still needs to improve its efficiency, but points out that costs linked to the pandemic are not included in the savings.

- We have a slightly different worldview when the union representatives talk about that we have placed great savings requirements on care. In fact, we have added huge amounts to the care, she says.