City administration presents options to the city council to maintain a structurally sound budget

“As a municipality, we’re juggling multiple priorities at once,” explains Frans Stravers, finance Alderman , on behalf of the municipal executive. “Residents expect quality services and amenities. Clubs and community organizations are asking for support. Business owners want the freedom to operate, and there are major challenges in areas such as housing, Health, sustainability, and accessibility. But every euro can only be spent once. That’s why we have to make choices. It’s not easy, and residents or organizations will notice some of these choices. We’ve tried to arrive at a balanced package, keeping the consequences in mind.”  

 
Not Just Cutting Costs 

The package does not mean that the municipality has to cut €4 million from its budget. The municipal executive has outlined several options: spending less, increasing revenue, and changing the way things are done. The city council will ultimately decide which choices to make.  

The Comprehensive Council Program 2026–2030 “Toward a Future-Proof Geldrop-Mierlo” requires that financial discipline. In it, the city council has set out ambitions for the coming years, but has also made it clear that financial stability is a prerequisite for actually being able to carry out those ambitions. Not everything can be done at once, and not everything can be done simultaneously. 

Spend Less and Work Differently 

The municipality has examined where things can be done differently, more intelligently, more efficiently, or on a smaller scale. Some of the proposals therefore involve reducing municipal involvement. Among other things, the municipality is examining the use of facilities, the maintenance of public spaces, and the neighborhood-based approach to the heat transition. In addition, certain projects and goals in specific areas are being postponed. 

The municipality is also taking a hard look at itself. By critically examining its staffing levels, operations, and work processes, the municipal executive aims to achieve structural savings of approximately €280,000 in personnel costs. “If we ask others to make choices, we have to make them ourselves as well,” says Stravers. “We can’t keep doing everything the way we’ve always done it. We have to set priorities.” 

Seeking New Revenue 
Not all financial flexibility needs to come from budget cuts. The city council is therefore also exploring new sources of revenue: income that does not currently exist. For example, the council proposes increasing the property tax by 10 percent on top of the regular indexation, raising parking fees, eliminating the second hour of free parking, and implementing an increase in the tourist tax. The municipal executive also wants to allow light boxes on lampposts to be used as advertising space. These proposals are expected to generate approximately €1.1 million in additional revenue on a structural basis. “When making financial decisions, we look at both sides of the balance sheet: what comes in and what we spend,” said Stravers. “Geldrop-Mierlo has had relatively low municipal taxes for quite some time compared to other municipalities in the region. That’s why we’re also looking at the revenue side.” 

Choices Have Consequences 

The municipal executive recognizes that some proposals will affect residents, associations, and organizations. Other proposals mainly mean that the municipality will do things differently or at a later time. For example, the measures on the expenditure side will yield approximately €860,000 in 2027. In subsequent years, this amount will increase further. 

Financial and technical measures are also part of the package. These are expected to generate approximately €375,000 in 2027 and even more in subsequent years. For 2028, it is also proposed to temporarily draw on the general reserve. This will allow the municipality to offset part of the expected financial shortfall. However, drawing on the reserve is not a long-term solution. Therefore, lasting decisions regarding revenue and expenditures are necessary. 

The city council decides 

The package presented by the municipal executive is not yet a decision. The city council may adopt, amend, or reject the proposals. Thus, the council ultimately determines which decisions are made. The city council will discuss the package of measures during a public meeting on September 15. The final debate will take place during the budget deliberations in November. 

All relevant documents can be found in the Council Information System under the September 15 meeting.
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