Strengthening services and operations
The 2017 budget for the Borough of Hafnarfjörður was approved at a meeting of the town council today. The council's actions are guided by the principles of increasing services, strengthening maintenance and construction, reducing the burden on residents, paying down debt and investing with its own funds. In this way, the City of Hafnarfjörður has succeeded in significantly improving the council's operations in a short space of time, from an operating deficit in 2015 to a positive operating result in 2016 according to the forecast, and a projected operating surplus of 554.4 million krónur at the end of 2017.
The 2017 budget for the Borough of Hafnarfjörður was approved at a meeting of the town council today. The council's actions are guided by the principles of increasing services, strengthening maintenance and construction, reducing the burden on residents, paying down debt and investing with its own funds. In this way, the City of Hafnarfjörður has succeeded in significantly improving the council's operations in a short space of time, from an operating deficit in 2015 to a positive operating result in 2016 according to the forecast, and a projected operating surplus of 554.4 million krónur at the end of 2017.
Strengthening core services and increased contribution to infrastructure
Hafnarfjörður Municipality will carry out projects worth approximately 3,435 million króna in 2017, compared to 1,576 million króna in 2016, and well under 1,000 million króna per year between 2011 and 2015. The budget clearly shows a significant turnaround in the town's finances, and the community of Hafnarfjörður will enjoy the benefits in the new year. A new sixty-bed care home will be built at Sólvang. Construction of a new nursery and primary school in Skarðshlíð will begin this year, in addition to which a new training and teaching facility will be built on the Haukar site in Ásvellir. The artificial turf at FH will also be renewed, and work on this will begin during the year. Three social housing units were purchased in 2016, and a further 200 million is planned for social housing in the new year.
„As is clearly evident from the newly approved 2017 budget and its amendments, the municipality's operations have undergone a dramatic change year-on-year. The forecast for 2016 indicates a positive operating result and a significant increase in operating working capital. This means that we can continue to place a strong emphasis on debt repayment, equity-financed investments and, above all, increased construction, maintenance and services for the community.“ says Haraldur L. Haraldsson, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður. „There are very exciting and rewarding projects ahead in the new year, which I look forward to working on with my team and the community here in Hafnarfjörður.“ Harald adds.
Last autumn, the town allocated six plots in the Skarðshlíðar neighbourhood for 18 blocks of flats with 167 flats, and construction and development in the area will begin around the middle of the year. Two blocks of flats plots had already been allocated, one of which was to ASÍ for 32 flats. This is the first allocation to ASÍ in a four-phase process, which provides for the development of 150 rental flats over four years to better meet the demand in the rental market. Under the agreement, the council will have disposal rights over 251 of the flats to be built for social housing. Another area in the Skarðshlíðar neighbourhood, intended for detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, is in the design and planning process, which is scheduled to be completed at the start of the new year. The plots will be advertised in the spring, and the demand already generated suggests that they will sell out quickly. This indicates that this new district of Hafnarfjörður will develop rapidly and become one of the most popular areas in the Greater Reykjavík Area. The new flyover at the Reykjanesbraut/Krýsuvíkurveg junction, which is included in the transport plan, will not only improve access for residents to Vogar and Skarðshlíð but will also open up significant opportunities for further industrial development in Hellnahraun. Significant development is also taking place elsewhere in the town, both by the council and by private developers. Work on a new hotel in the centre of Hafnarfjörður is scheduled to begin this year, and a reorganisation of the industrial area on the lava fields and at Flensborg Harbour is also planned. It has been decided to demolish the building at 2 Lækjargata, which is commonly known as 'Dvergur'. The building has been under-utilised for years and is an eyesore for the town's appearance. Efforts will be made to ensure that new buildings on the site blend in well with the neighbouring properties, and the change will have a significant impact on the town's appearance.
A 390 million króna supplement to the budget
390 million krónur will be allocated to increased maintenance and strengthening of the municipality's supporting pillars. The largest additions to the budget are aimed at strengthening and increasing contributions to education and training, leisure, culture, family services, and at enhancing core services for residents and businesses. A 35 million króna increase is therefore planned for snow clearance, with priority given to certain footpaths and cycle paths as well as the main roads. Increased emphasis will also be placed on street sweeping, mowing and the general cleaning of the town. The Development Fund for Education amounts to 150 million krónur in 2017, and the fund covers equipment, courses and the implementation of new technology. Of this, 80 million will be allocated to the introduction of tablets for teachers and pupils in years 8 to 10 of the primary schools. A future plan for 2018 provides for the purchase of tablets for pupils in years 5, 6 and 7. A major upgrade of the computer equipment in the nursery and primary schools of Hafnarfjörður has already taken place, with almost a third of the schools' equipment renewed in 2016. Additional funding will also be allocated to the multi-disciplinary department and its development, teaching in arts and crafts, equipment purchases for the music school, and increased support for students whose mother tongue is not Icelandic. Pre-school teachers and heads will receive increased funding for preparation, and there will also be a 2.5% increase in the allowance for parents with children in day-care. Family services will receive additional support for child protection matters, and 35 million will be allocated to increasing the educational level of staff in homes for people with disabilities and to employment for people with disabilities. Operational maintenance for schools, sports halls and swimming pools will be increased by 38 million, and maintenance for open spaces, buildings and roads by the same amount.
Attachments to the press release