Budget 2023

Original text: 

Current inflation and high energy prices affect every Wassenaar resident. The future is uncertain. Many policies are set nationally, but the municipal government is doing what it can to keep Wassenaar safe and fine. Under the current circumstances, but looking to the future, the Mayor and Aldermen's Council has come up with a confident, sustainable and realistic budget for the period 2023-2026.

Structurally balanced

The 2023 multi-year budget shows a structural surplus in the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. This makes the Wassenaar budget structurally balanced. The annually increasing deficits are no longer financed from the general reserve or through the sale of assets; thus we can actually pay annual expenses from annual income. It also gives us sufficient resources to make investments in the village without taking on debt.

What will we achieve by 2023?

Before 2023, we will make substantial strides. The start of solid reduction of cut-through traffic through Wassenaar. Reducing the speed of village traffic by, among other things, introducing 30-kilometer zones throughout Wassenaar. We are committed to greatly improving our maintenance of public green spaces and roads. And strengthen communication with our residents.

Investment Program

Living, living and working in a safe and green village is a pleasure. We invest especially in traffic safety; this stems from the new coalition agreement.

If we want to keep our current healthcare system accessible and affordable, we will have to sharpen our priorities. In the coming years we will invest in preventive and shared services. We are working on a single access point for Health and support as well as informing and inspiring residents with various campaigns.

Wassenaar goes for a responsible, well-considered financial policy without debt. Service and communication to residents must be of desirable levels: this requires, among other things, a strong administrative team.

To the north, Wassenaar borders Katwijk. On our territory, the green zone between the two villages will remain as green as possible. We strive for a sustainable and high-quality design without intensive recreation. The minimum distance between the buildings of Wassenaar and those of Katwijk will be 1,500 meters.

This council period, at least the housing construction of four projects will be worked out: - the conversion of the ANWB headquarters on the border with The Hague into housing, - the construction of houses on the Den Deyl/Middelweg site, - the construction of houses on the current municipal yard and houses in Het Kerkehout.

We expressly invest in making our village even more beautiful and green. As early as 2023 we want to be able to show concrete results when it comes to greenery, maintenance of public spaces and traffic safety.

OZB and tourist tax

We are taking some drastic measures. The OZB will be increased by 20% (+€2.2 million) and tourist tax revenue will be doubled (+€1.2 million). A proportionately large part of the tax increase is financed by tourists, which allows us to somewhat limit the OZB increase.

The OZB increase (of the user part) does not apply to Wassenaarders who rent a house from our housing corporations. Tenants are often less able to buy and we want to prevent them from running into financial problems later on.

Realistic budgeting has also led to an adjustment of the budget for Youth Aid. From 2023, the budget for Youth Aid will be structurally increased by € 1.9 million. With the OZB increase we absorb the main cost increase of the Youth Care in Wassenaar.

Alderman Henri Hendrickx (Finance): This is the first budget of the new college that is solid. And it has to be in these uncertain times. This for a self-confident, sustainable and realistic Wassenaar.

The dedicated budget website can be found here