Municipality of Aa en Hunze Ends 2024 with Solid Budget Surplus

The municipality of Aa en Hunze has closed the 2024 financial year with a positive result of €8.2 million. This is evident from the annual accounts submitted by the municipal executive to the municipal council.

From the surplus, over €4 million will be added to the general reserve, strengthening the municipality’s financial buffer in the run-up to the so-called ‘cliff year’ in 2026. A smaller portion will go to earmarked reserves. According to Finance Alderman Kiena ten Brink, “A healthy financial starting position is essential, as challenges also lie ahead for our municipality.”

The positive result is partly due to higher income from environmental permit fees, the release of reserved budgets, and lower costs for hosting Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers. On the other hand, the municipality also faced some setbacks, including increased waste processing costs and higher pension provisions for (former) administrators due to a drop in interest rates.

In 2025 and beyond, Aa en Hunze plans to continue investing in village liveability, with a focus on sustainability, housing, and social security. At the same time, the approaching cliff year requires difficult decisions. Alderman Ten Brink: “Together with the council, we’re exploring what steps are needed to realise our ambitions while keeping the budget structurally balanced.”

The municipal council will discuss the annual accounts during its meeting on 26 June.