The objectives of the Competence and Economic Development Committee’s draft budget for 2027 emphasise strengthening employment, promoting the creation of new jobs, and supporting the learning and graduation of secondary-level students. The draft budget also includes further adjustment measures as part of the city’s efforts towards fiscal stability. The committee’s operating deficit for 2027 is approximately 165 million euros.
In addition to the budget, the committee is considering updating the criteria for awarding local development grants. The proposal introduces new forms of grant, such as the labour market transition grant, which aims to support the employment of the long-term unemployed.
The committee will also decide on the introduction of an ‘international voucher’ as part of the reform of the local development grants and will discuss a council initiative on the matter. The international voucher will support internship and employment opportunities for international higher education students in Tampere. The pilot is due to start in autumn 2026, and its total budget is 30,000 euros, which will enable ten international vouchers to be awarded.
The city’s challenging financial situation is also reflected in the draft budget for Economic Development services. Further adjustment measures are being prepared across all service groups, with procurement, investments and other operating expenditure currently under review. The aim is to identify savings in as controlled a manner as possible, whilst taking into account the effectiveness of services.
– The draft budget aims to safeguard key future objectives in the face of a challenging economic situation. Strengthening employment and supporting young people’s learning and graduation are key ways of building economic vitality in Tampere in the years to come, says Deputy Mayor Jaakko Mustakallio.
The city’s weakened financial situation has led to the preparation of additional measures to support the 2027 draft budget. In line with the guidelines issued by the Mayor’s Executive Group in August, each service area is to prepare additional savings of one million euros, whilst central administration is to propose additional measures totalling €0.2 million on top of the budget framework. The combined effect of these proposals is estimated to improve the city’s financial result by a total of €3.2 million. For the Competence and Economic Development Committee, this means a need for additional savings of €0.5 million. The committees will consider the additional measures as separate proposals before the package is incorporated into the mayor’s draft budget.
Additional measures are being prepared primarily through a review of operational costs and procurement. In Employment and Growth Services, the costs of outsourced services are being assessed in particular due to the weak labour market situation. In upper secondary education, the review will focus, amongst other things, on the appropriations allocated to cultural education, the range of courses offered at adult upper secondary schools, the procurement of learning materials and equipment, and the costs of presentation technology.
The draft budget approved by the committee will form part of the mayor’s draft budget. However, the mayor’s draft budget for 2027 may include changes to the committee’s proposal. The final decision on the 2027 budget will be taken by the City Council at its November meeting.
