Happy New Year
In a few words, I would like to summarise the past year, as well as express my opinion on the coming year, a year which, in my view, will be characterised by ambitious and successful projects, and by effective collaboration between the city's departments and companies.
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New Year's greetings from the Mayor of the City of Hafnarfjörður
In a few words, I would like to summarise the past year, as well as express my opinion on the coming year, a year which, in my view, will be characterised by ambitious and successful projects, and by effective collaboration between the city's departments and companies.
Looking back
The year 2015 is characterised by operational calculations, analyses and audits, which at the end of the year provide an overview and understanding of the situation in the city of Hafnarfjörður. These actions provide the basis for creating a realistic and transparent budget plan for the coming year. A plan that will result in a surplus of over 360 million krónur. A plan which I am fully hopeful that we – myself, my board members and the staff – can implement and put into practice, thereby improving the city's financial position. Increased working capital is a prerequisite for reducing the city's debt, and this reduction in turn enables greater planning and implementation, as well as the expansion and improvement of services. I prefer to view Hafnarfjörður as a business, a large service enterprise, where I, as a manager, want to ensure effective ways of working and focus on the proper corporate culture, with a pleasant working atmosphere, which will be reflected in the services provided to clients. In this case, they are the residents, the businesses operating within the city, and also the guests and tourists who are visiting our city in greater numbers than ever before. We have already taken certain steps in the right direction. The city's foreign debt has been largely paid off, and a number of our main services have also been auctioned off, which will result in a significant financial gain in the coming year. I am listing just a few examples here.
Looking ahead
I am hopeful that we all want to see the city of Hafnarfjörður grow and develop like never before, and become a model for other cities. This can be achieved through our collective effort, a positive attitude, and by looking at our surroundings with new possibilities and ideas. I personally promise to actively listen and assist with projects that align with the city's goals and strategy, in order to achieve even better services and create an even better city to live in. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who have volunteered their time to implement fantastic projects for the city. At the same time, I would like to thank the wonderful people who work for the city of Hafnarfjörður for their professional work and their contribution to development projects, both those that have already been completed and those that will continue into the new year. I look to the future with optimism, filled with old and new challenges, opportunities and tasks. I can certainly say that I am looking forward to it. May the new year bring me and my colleagues more conversations with interested residents of the city who have new ideas and see opportunities and new possibilities for the local community, and visits to businesses in Hafnarfjörður to get a better insight into their operations and aspirations. May the new year bring interesting and fun projects, and happy residents engaged in the affairs of the local and surrounding community.
May the new year bring us all happiness and health.
Together we will make the town of Hafnarfjörður the best town in Iceland.
Haraldur L. Haraldsson, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður