Municipality Presents Balanced Budget for 2025–2028
About halfway through its term, the Municipal Executive of Voorschoten will present a structurally balanced budget for 2025–2028. Much has already been accomplished. In the coming years, the Municipal Executive intends to continue making significant progress at a rapid pace. Key priorities include affordable housing, the Ambachts- en Baljuwhuis, the Fortgens School, and the Kruispuntkerk.
In recent years, the municipal executive has completed or made significant progress on various projects. These include the sports facilities policy, projects such as the redevelopment of the Adegeest neighborhood and the roundabout in front of City Hall, the housing vision, the downtown development vision, and various housing construction projects. Other important projects are partly in the planning stages, such as those involving the Kruispuntkerk, the swimming pool, the town hall with library, and the sports hall.
Much has already been accomplished
“We’ve already accomplished a great deal, and we want to continue at a brisk pace,” says Councilman Hans van der Elst. “For example, over the past year, we’ve made significant strides in developing and strengthening our own municipal administration. This is very important for the future of Voorschoten. But we can’t achieve everything else we have in mind as quickly as we’d like. As the municipal executive, we have to make choices. For the coming years, we’ll be focusing on a number of priority areas where decisions really need to be made now. These include more affordable housing, the future of the Ambachts- and Baljuwhuis, the new Fortgens School, and the development of the Kruispuntkerk into a multicultural center. So there will also be goals that we’ll have to postpone for the long term.”
Making Choices
The fact that the municipal executive must make choices is due, first of all, to the central government’s budget cuts. Starting in 2026—the so-called “fiscal cliff” year—the central government will reduce its subsidies to municipalities, while the municipal executive still wants to and must continue to meet all its legal obligations and goals. Second, it is not yet clear what the future will hold regarding the reception of displaced persons and the subsidies provided to the municipality. Third, the municipality is also facing a tight labor market.
Coalition Agreement Remains in Place
Even in the face of necessary budget cuts and reallocations, the coalition agreement remains in place. The municipal executive is committed to ensuring that Voorschoten remains a wonderful and thriving residential community, with engaged residents, business owners, and organizations. People who need a little extra help will continue to be able to count on the municipal executive. Finally, the municipal executive will work on solutions that contribute to climate adaptation.