Last week, the blue-green majority presented its budget for 2021. The message was clear - it is a tight budget due to the difficult economic situation.
But at the same time, the Stockholm Region is making a profit of several billion this year.
How does this go together?
- The idea is that the money will be used to secure healthcare and public transport in the coming years and before the recession, says Irene Svenonius.
S wants to spend the money
Due to the fact that SL's ticket revenues have been significantly lower than expected and that the staff has cost more during the corona crisis, among other things, through the crisis situation agreement, several large investments have been put on hold for next year.
The Social Democrats' Aida Hadzialic believes that during the current pandemic, care should not be saved.
- Suddenly, out of nowhere, this money arises despite the Moderates claiming that there are no resources in the region, says Aida Hadzialic (S) Opposition Regional Council.
Final note for corona: 7.4 billion
Region Stockholm's CFO Katarina Holmgren says in a statement that they plan to set aside part of the surplus for the coming years as it is difficult to know how the corona will affect the economy in the future.
She also announces that the corona pandemic appears to give the Stockholm Region an additional cost of SEK 7.4 billion and that government subsidies do not appear to be sufficient.
- The economic situation is still tough and we must continue to hold on, both in the efforts against the pandemic and in the work to strengthen Region Stockholm's economy.
Therefore, it is also important that the state keeps its promises of reasonable compensation to the regions and municipalities for the effects of the pandemic and we are not there now, says Katarina Holmgren in a press release.