– The money is much needed, but it is not enough to cover the urgent situation that prevails within the school, says Britt-Marie Selin, chairman of Sweden’s teachers in Stockholm.
103 out of 126 municipal primary schools have a hard financial situation this year and are running a deficit according to the education board.
Reasons include expected wage increases, drastically increased personnel costs and food costs. A number of schools also have a reduced student base and will now have to reorganize their organization, explains school councilor Emilia Bjuggren at today’s press conference in city hall.
The moderates’ group leader in Stockholm, Christofer Fjellner, is critical of the fact that no further priorities are made by the red-green government.
– This rescue package is not even half of what is needed and teachers will have to be fired in the schools in crisis, he says.
Municipal tax may be increased: “Svantesson Tax”
Finance councilor Karin Wanngård (S) does not agree that there are additional resources to be taken away. Instead, she wants to see increased state subsidies from the government. Otherwise, there may be talk of raising the tax, which she calls the Svantesson tax (ed’s note, after moderate finance minister Elisabeth Svantesson).
– If the government continues to not provide money for municipal welfare, it will force us to raise the municipal tax, she says.
Saved buffers and budget imbalance
The money must be paid to principals who decide what it will be used for. About half of the municipal schools also have a saved fund buffer with money since the pandemic.
Of the 102 million kroner, 77 will go to the municipal schools and 25 million to the independent schools. The schools that have large student losses will also be allowed to operate with a deficit for the next two years.
