VIDEO. Tallinn’s budget and future plans: investments in education, social grants and Tivoli
As they say, money makes the wheels turn. In which direction will these wheels start turning in Tallinn in light of the new budget? Tallinn Mayor Mihhail Kõlvart also visited the studio to comment on the matter.
Estonia’s oldest and largest hobby school, Kullo, began its operation in 1941. The current building in the immediate vicinity of Löwenruh Park was completed in the late 1970s. By now the building has depreciated and its spatial and technical capabilities no longer meet today’s needs. Next year the family’s long-held dream of the school will become reality: the old building will be demolished to open a new one with greater opportunities.
“The terraces opening to the south of the new building offer much more landscape and greenery, which in turn gives the opportunity to enjoy nature right here in the urban space. If you consider Tallinn’s budget for next year and the long-term investments in the field of education, we are of course very happy and see this as recognition for the field of interest of education as a whole,” said Ronne Sära, director of Tallinn University. center of interest Kullo.
Investments in education and a new network of family nurseries
The net surface area of the new Kullo building will be approximately 11,000 square meters and 25 million euros are expected for the construction.
A record of over 70 million euros is invested in education. We will start with the expansion of Tallinn Secondary School, the renovation and expansion of the old Hiiu School building and the last phase of the expansion of the Pirita Economic High School. Tallinn’s Hönme primary school continues, planning for Kalamaja begins and four new nursery schools are completed.
For next year, 121.9 million euros are expected for operational expenses in the social field and 9.7 million euros for investments. As a new initiative, the creation of a network of family nurseries will also be launched. The opening of the first center is planned in the premises of the Tallinn family center on Asula Street.
“It is a welcoming and safe place where parents can be together, where a parent can receive help in their parenting journey. Tallinn has the largest number of services in all of Estonia, but most of them are paid services,” said Kiira Gornischeff, CEO of the Child Welfare Development Center. However, the Perepesa service will be free for all parents.
The amount of social benefits will increase overall by 10% in the budget. Pension supplement from 175 to 200 euros. Support for a disabled child from 125 to 150 euros, and support for the start of the school year from 75 to 100 euros. The hourly price of a support person for needy children will increase from 7 to 9 euros.
According to the draft, the total volume of the Tallinn city budget for 2024 amounts to 1.26 billion euros, which is 6.7% more than last year. The increase in investments to 252 million euros was also significant.
The city has its own Tivoli and Tiger Valley Zoo
Much to the surprise of all Tallinn residents, the budget revealed that we will also have our own tivol, which is certainly good news for many families. How did such an idea come about?
“If we talk about investments, no one will start building Tivoli next year. It would be naive to think that economic growth will come by itself. To get out of the crisis we need to address it during the crisis. One of the tools is support for greater investments and entrepreneurship , as well as preparing longer-term plans.”Tivoli also has a longer plan that could come with foreign investment,” said Tallinn Mayor Mihhail Kõlvart.
From Tivoli we can move on to Tiigriorg, which we have been waiting for many years at Tallinn Zoo. When can we expect Tigrioru to open?
“The plan is that Tiigriorg should be ready next year. The zoo develops every year and is a very popular place for both children and adults, and it seems to me that this is the right direction of development,” he said Kõlvart.
However, we currently find ourselves in a situation where the state and almost all other municipalities are withdrawing investments and reducing operating costs, not to mention increasing social benefits. But the Tallinn city budget will increase by 6.7%. At the expense of what?
“We have two priorities for next year. Investments to support businesses and the economic environment and provide a basis for emerging from the crisis over time. The second priority is, of course, people. Hard times have already arrived, but they will become even more difficult. For this reason the budget also provides for various subsidies and their increase”, explained the mayor.
According to the mayor, the residents of Tallinn also have universal support in the form of free public transport, which, according to the mayor, they will not give up. Furthermore, next year too, to everyone’s delight, night buses will also continue to operate, which will probably extend to several neighborhoods.
Tallinn also plans to continue with the arrangement of parks, green areas and insect trails.
“We are proud that 30% of Tallinn is covered by green areas, but the environment and greenery must not only be preserved, but also developed. Therefore parks are always a priority for us and the new park concept will be a priority for next year,” Kõlvart said.
2023-12-16 17:09:23
investments-in-education-social-benefits-and-the-citys-tivoli