Almere’s mayor and aldermen have presented the 2027 programme budget, the first of the current term and the first financial translation of the coalition agreement Almere Vooruit. It adds recurring money for safety and culture and proposes a new investment reserve funded by land sales. For a fast-growing city facing large tasks in housing, facilities, safety and liveability, the budget sets out how the executive intends to pay for further growth.
What changes
From 2027 the city will invest a recurring €1.8 million extra in safety and €2 million in culture. Action against illegal waste dumping is also being stepped up. These investments are offset by cuts to economy, diversity and inclusion, and climate funding.
The budget is structurally balanced, which means the municipality pays its recurring spending from recurring income. At the same time, the city says its financial position remains challenging. The executive therefore plans to reprioritise policy to keep the budget balanced in the coming years and to create room for new investment.
A reserve for future investment
The executive proposes setting aside the expected €36 million from land sales for future investment in public facilities, urban development and municipal property. By using land revenue less for the day-to-day budget and more for long-term investment, the city wants to be better prepared for its growth and for the replacement needs it faces in the coming decades.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Extra for safety (recurring, from 2027) | €1.8 million |
| Extra for culture (recurring, from 2027) | €2 million |
| Planned deposit in the investment reserve | €36 million |
Talks with the national government
Almere continues talks with the national government about the specific challenges of a fast-growing city. Besides housing construction, the city says investment is needed in facilities, employment, youth care, safety and liveability. The executive sees this as a shared responsibility of the city and the state.
Background
Other recent decisions also concern housing in the growing city. The municipality, student housing provider DUWO and housing association GoedeStede have signed an agreement reserving land at the Esplanade for around 1,250 student homes, with construction of a first phase of about 600 homes planned for late 2028. The city is also introducing a vacancy tax for homes that have been empty for a year or longer on 1 January 2027, starting at €2,000 a year.