Ghent Reduces Budget by €120M to Fund Projects and Assess Cleaning Services

Ghent (Eurotoday) – Ghent plans a €120 million budget cut (8%) to invest in sustainability and infrastructure. The city may replace private cleaners with its staff for schools, museums, and public toilets, sparking political debate.

Ghent is reducing its budget by €120 million, approximately 8% of its entire budget. Officials stated that this would enable them to invest in new projects, particularly in infrastructure and sustainability. The city also aims to use this money to ensure its finances remain strong for the future. However, some are concerned about how the city will save money without impacting essential services. 

One proposal under consideration is for the city to take over cleaning services for schools, museums, and public toilets instead of outsourcing them to private companies. This idea arises from concerns that external cleaning services have not met expectations despite previous efforts to address these issues.

Will Ghent replace private cleaners with city workers?

Ghent blank”>aims to ensure fair treatment for its workers while maintaining high service standards. Officials acknowledge that the city carries significant debt, necessitating cost-saving measures. Some believe the city should prioritize essential services while reducing expenditure elsewhere. Ghent is striving to balance financial savings with the provision of reliable public services.

The city is in discussions with workers and unions regarding the potential transition to in-house cleaning for public facilities. Authorities are concerned about the workload of cleaners and the overall quality of cleanliness in these spaces. Although stricter regulations have already been imposed on private contractors, the city continues to explore the option of shifting to municipal cleaning services.

No final decision has been made regarding whether city employees will replace private cleaning companies. Officials emphasize that they are carefully considering all aspects before reaching a conclusion. Meanwhile, some political groups have criticized the approach, arguing that the city is handling the matter unfairly.

A few points and commas have been adjusted in the opposition’s proposal. It is then presented as a new proposal from the majority and approved as such. That is not serious. A trend break was promised, but that is not the case. Moreover, we were shown the text half an hour before the session,

other political groups stated.