Mayor Ilmari Nurminen’s budget proposal was approved by the City Council at the end of a deep discussion and votes. According to Tampere's profit and loss account, the city’s estimated expenditure in 2026 will be €1.277 billion. The annual balance will be EUR 96.3 million and it will cover 69.9% of the planned depreciation. The city will carry a deficit of €41.4 million.
According to Mayor Nurminen, the city has undertaken the necessary measures for balancing the economy in different operating units in a determined and proactive manner.
The budget will include an economic balancing programme, which includes more than one hundred different cuts with the aim of saving €18.6 million in 2026. The dividend targets of the city's group companies have been upped by €7.5 million. In addition, the city has had to engage in co-determination negotiations resulting in full-year savings of approximately €10.6 million.
The structural deficit will require that the city continues to persistently balance its finances in the coming years in accordance with the Mayor's Programme. According to Mayor Nurminen, Tampere, which is growing, is in a good position for achieving the set goals. The objective is to achieve economic balance by 2029.
The City Council decided that the municipal and real estate tax rates will remain unchanged in the coming year. The income tax rate in Tampere will be 7.60% next year.
The general real estate tax rate will be 1.25% for buildings and 1.3% for land. The real estate tax rate for permanent residential buildings is 0.65% and for other residential buildings 1.10%. The real estate tax rate for an unbuilt construction site is 5.00%, 0.40% for non-profit organisations and 3.00% for power plants.
It is anticipated that the municipal tax revenue will be €495 million, corporate tax revenue will be €82 million and real estate tax revenue will be approximately €111 million in the coming year. The tax revenues are not sufficient to cover the city's investments, wherefore the budget prepares for an increase of €150 million in interest-bearing debt. It is estimated that the city's debt per resident will be €4,524 at the end of 2026.
It is estimated that tax funding (tax revenue + central government transfers) will increase by approximately €61.9 million in 2026 compared to the current year's forecast (8.6%), which will comprise of an increase in tax revenue (€41.0 million) and central government transfers (€18.9 million). In 2025, the imputed funding allocated to the employment service reform is approximately €50 million, which is not sufficient to cover the increase in costs caused by expanded employment services and unemployment benefits.
Revenue from the capital gains is estimated at €35.5 million. This estimate includes capital gains from the sale of both land and buildings. Assets are sold to finance investments and curb the growth of the city’s debt. Land use compensations are estimated at €5.0 million.
The city’s investments (net) will total €231 million next year, and the internal financing rate of investments will be 42%.
The city council decided in line with the Mayor’s Programme to look for investment funding of €5 million for the development of the Kauppi from within the budget or, if necessary, in a supplementary budget for 2026–2028.
In 2026, the City of Tampere’s largest investment entities will be building construction projects (46%) and urban construction investments (20%). Building construction projects will be chiefly related to the construction and renovation of schools and day-care centres as well as cultural and sports facilities.
The 2026 investment plan includes the expansion of the Tampere Art Museum, the renovation of the Rauhaniemi Sauna, the renovation of the Kaukajärvi school, the construction of the Peltolammi Wellbeing Centre (school, day-care centre, youth facilities, and library), the renovation and expansion of the Tammela school and Sara Hildén Academy.
As a result of the co-determination negotiations held in autumn 2025, the number of person-years will decrease in several of the city’s operating units. On the other hand, an increase in the number of children in early childhood education and care and the legislative reform of support for pre-primary and basic education will result in increases in person-years.
The annual margin for the 2026 budget is €497.8 million. Personnel expenses are expected to increase by €13.0 million (2.7%) compared to the current year’s revised budget proposal. The increase is mainly due to wage increases and an increase in personnel costs.
The 2026 budget includes 8,342 paid person-years, which is 78 person-years less compared to the current year’s revised budget proposal. The figures include both rationalization measures and increases in service needs in different units. Due to legislative reforms, the city will no longer employ new persons supported with pay subsidies in 2026.
Next year, the new Tampere a city for everyone -development programme will be launched to promote equality, inclusion, and communality.
The development programme, which implements the Mayor’s Programme, focuses on the development of neighbourhoods and cooperation with organisations, the wellbeing services county, parishes, and other actors.
The aim is to ensure that Tampere’s services, operating methods, and atmosphere meet the needs of the diversifying population. Funding of €1.9 million will be reserved for a development programme.
| Population 31 December 2026 | 267 000 residents |
|---|---|
| Municipal income tax rate | 7,60 per cent |
| Personnel | 8342 person-years |
| Annual margin | 96,3 million euros |
| Revenue | 1 236,2 million euros |
| Expenditure (operating+financing expenses+depreciation) | 1 277,6 million euros |
| Budget outcome | -41,4 million euros |
| Total investments (net) | 230,7 million euros |
| Loan amount per resident | 4 524 euros |
