Budget Dispute Intensifies Over Ekenäs High School Renovation Plans
A budget debate escalates between Raseborg politicians over Ekenäs högstadieskola's proposed €17 million renovation.
Key Points
- • Seppo Lintuluoto labels the €17 million budget excessive, suggesting €11 million is sufficient.
- • Britt-Marie Granström supports the higher budget to meet modern educational needs.
- • Raseborg city allocated €11 million previously for school renovations and raising taxes is not an option.
- • The education board will assess space needs in the fall.
In Raseborg, a heated debate has emerged over the proposed budget for renovating Ekenäs högstadieskola, amounting to €17 million. Local politicians are divided on the necessity and justification of this spending. Seppo Lintuluoto from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) criticizes the cost, asserting that €11 million should suffice due to projected declines in student enrollment. He expressed concerns about whether the additional €6 million could be better allocated elsewhere, suggesting the project resembles a "palace" rather than essential school improvement.
Conversely, Britt-Marie Granström of the Swedish People's Party (SFP) defends the €17 million plan, advocating for a complete rebuild of the old school sections from 1966, built partly in the 1990s, to meet modern educational standards. Granström acknowledges the financial challenges Raseborg faces, stating that raising taxes is not a viable option given the already high rates but insists that wise prioritization is crucial for future needs.
The city allocated €11 million last year for renovations, and as the education board prepares to evaluate classroom and common area needs this fall, the ongoing discourse suggests significant implications for Raseborg's educational infrastructure and fiscal policies.
As the situation develops, the contrast in perspectives underscores the complexities of funding public education in a financially constrained environment.