The renovation of the Katariina swimming pool is brought forward – free exhibitions are abandoned
13.11.2024 | The Kotka City Council has decided to bring forward the new Katarina Swimming Hall project so that the project plan update scheduled for 2025 will be continued by drawing up a plan and construction plan for the new building of the swimming hall already during 2026-2027. The amendment proposal won the City Council’s motion by a vote of 42-8.
The council also discussed the construction schedule for the kindergarten planned for Hovinsaari. The Coalition-RCP council group proposed that the kindergarten project be moved forward by two years, so that it would not start until 2027. The proposal was overturned by a vote of 30-21.
The meeting also discussed a proposal to scrap the current “Hyvän tuulen messut” organised by the city, which is free of charge to the public and would save around €140 000 a year.
The motion was adopted by 34-17 votes, and it was decided not to fill the position of temporary exhibition assistant next year. The permanent, full-time position of Participatory Budgeting Assistant was also not filled.
The Council also decided to remove the toilet building in the Katariina’s seaside park from the investment list, saving 10 000€ next year and 60 000€ per year for the next two years.
On the expenditure side, the biggest increase, totalling 148 000€ next year, will come from the recruitment of seven resource teachers in primary education. For the next two years, the decision will increase costs by 357 000€ per year.
It was also decided to add 10 000€ for the purchase of the services of the Finnish model of recreation.
The council also made some textual changes to next year’s budget.
In education, it was decided to look at new possibilities for cooperation with the third sector, in addition to the tools already in place. Through organised volunteering, it is possible to get more safe adults, such as school/reading mothers and grandmothers, into schools.
In youth work, it was decided that Kotka youth work staff and young people will work together during 2025 to identify the best ways and working hours to reach young people so that no young person is left without help or support. With the support of the Welfare Board, youth work services will be taken to where young people need them.
As regards the event centre, the Satama arena, it was decided that the planned update of the event centre strategy and business plan should include a profitability calculation. This calculation will support the short and long-term planning of the event centre’s activities and help to set concrete business objectives. The situation will be assessed by the group’s management and the necessary follow-up measures will be drawn up in cooperation with the company.
The Council also decided that a sustainable solution to the space needs of the Kotka Music Academy must be found and plans made accordingly during the financial planning period.
Tax rates remain unchanged
The City Council also decided on next year’s tax rates and decided to keep them all unchanged.
The income tax rate for 2025 will therefore remain at 9.40% and the property tax rates will follow:
- General property tax rate 1.35%
- Property tax rate for buildings used for permanent housing: 0.55%.
- Real estate tax rate for buildings other than permanent residential buildings 1,15 %
- Property tax rate for power stations 2,85 %
- Real estate tax rate for public utilities 0,50
No separate property tax rate is proposed for undeveloped land.