The Municipality of Aalten Presents Its 2027 Budget
The 2027 budget is in order, and preparations for financially challenging years have begun.
The Municipal Executive is presenting the budget for 2027. The municipality is facing a financial deficit of €1.8 million in 2027, which will rise to €5 million by 2030. To balance the 2027 budget, the City Council has submitted several financial proposals to the City Council. At the same time, the municipality continues to invest in housing, the living environment, a strong social foundation, and quality services—all while facing the challenge of balancing the budget in the coming years as well.
Temporary solution for 2027
One of the key developments is the new Schaersvoorde building in Aalten. This project requires €1.5 million annually. The plan is to build up a reserve for this purpose over the coming years, so that part of the investment can be financed from it. Because the city council has yet to make a final decision on the new building, the city executive proposes not to set aside this amount in 2027. The municipal executive intends to cover the remaining shortfall with a one-time draw from the general reserve.
Preparing for 2028 and Beyond
The financial challenge does not end after 2027. Starting in 2028, municipalities will once again face a sharp decline in revenue from the national government—the so-called “year of the precipice.” That is why the municipal executive wants to look ahead now and make decisions for the years after 2027. The municipal executive proposes to launch a cost-cutting program for 2028 and beyond. In doing so, the municipal executive aims to prepare the municipality for the structural financial challenge and ensure that the budget remains balanced in the long term.
“The financial situation calls for clear decisions. We can cover the deficit once by 2027, but that won’t solve the problem. That’s why we’re already looking ahead to 2028 and beyond. At the same time, we’ll continue to invest in issues that are important to our residents, such as housing, a strong social foundation, and a livable community,” said Arnold Joost, Finance Alderman .
Space for Housing Development and a Livable Community
Despite the financial challenges, Aalten continues to work on important developments. In the area of spatial planning, the focus is on housing construction and area development, among other things. For example, work is continuing on Slingeplas-'t Broock, the former Schaersvoorde site in Dinxperlo, the new Schaersvoorde development in Aalten, the expansion of the Aalten industrial park, and the housing development at Singel 1 and 2.
The “ Omgevingsvisie ” (Aalten 2040) plan is also taking shape. With this plan, the municipality is setting the spatial development course for the coming years. In addition, attention will continue to be focused on the energy transition, making homes more sustainable, and combating energy poverty.
Investing in a Strong Social Foundation
In the social sector, the focus is on prevention, early detection, and empowering residents to take control of their own lives. The municipality aims to make support more accessible and further strengthen the local team. Economic security, debt counseling, and inclusion also remain key priorities.
Within the municipal organization, efforts are underway to improve service delivery, collaboration, and information provision. In addition, digital resilience and information security are receiving extra attention internally.
Implementation of the Coalition Agreement
The goals set out in the coalition agreement “Strong Together,” adopted in July, will be further developed into an implementation plan in the coming period. In this plan, the goals will be translated into concrete actions, measures, and projects. The municipal executive will present this plan to the city council in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The city council will vote on the budget during its meeting on November 3.