2020 Budget
The Voorschoten municipal executive has now been working on the “Sustainable and Progressive” coalition agreement for a year. Over the past year, we have begun to flesh out and implement thecoalition agreement, building on last year’s successes. The budget allows us to invest in our town in the coming years. However, we must be careful not to get ahead of ourselves; there are various uncertainties that require us to continue managing our finances prudently. Nevertheless, we are able to make a number of visible investments.
Accessibility and Traffic
Voorschoten must be easily accessible, both by car and, certainly, by public transportation. For example, we are investing in a new bicycle parking facility at the station, we are collaborating with Leiden and Leidschendam-Voorburg to improve accessibility via the A4, and a bus route from Voorschoten Station to Wassenaar is being established. We are also in discussions with the municipality of Leiden and the Province of South Holland to improve the situation at Lammenschansplein.
Sustainability and Caring for Green Spaces
In Voorschoten, we’re proud of our green spaces. We encourage development and sustainability to go hand in hand in a variety of ways. For example, new construction is only permitted in areas where buildings already exist. We promote physical activity and outdoor play. Making our (local) living environment more sustainable is a key priority for us, so we want to prepare well for the future while taking climate change into account. We aim to make Voorschoten energy-neutral by 2030.
Quality healthcare and a vibrant, inclusive society
To ensure that healthcare remains high-quality and affordable, we will continue to focus on early detection and rapid resolution of problems, so that we can prevent costly treatment plans down the line. We want to promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage cycling, so that people can stay active and healthy for longer.
More Housing for First-Time Homebuyers and Seniors
To help older adults and young people find good, affordable housing, we want to ensure that these target groups are given due consideration in our construction plans. The housing shortage has particularly affected these groups. We are therefore aiming to build 300 new homes over four years—for every generation and every budget.
Village Dialogues and Participation
We have launched village dialogues on topics including the future of local governance, the subsidy system, and finances. A joint task force comprising the municipality and residents will continue to encourage citizen participation, and village dialogues will also take place in Voorschoten in 2020.
Safety
In 2020, the municipal executive will put forward proposals to invest in public safety. For example, there will be increased investment in neighborhood-focused initiatives, and the number of Boas (municipal enforcement officers) will be expanded.
Where does the money come from to pay for this?
The past few years have been difficult. Those years are behind us, but we must be careful to stay on track. This means, for example, that we’ve adopted a different method for depreciating our buildings and vehicles, giving us the financial flexibility to invest in our village. We can maintain the residual value of our buildings at 30% and that of our vehicles at 10%. As a result, we’ll need to depreciate assets that retain economic value at a lower rate.