The ravine year
At the beginning of this year, the province called on all Utrecht municipalities to develop scenarios for cutbacks. From 2026 onwards, the municipalities will write deep red figures. This is because they receive less money from the government and is also called the ravine year.
In 2026, the 26 Utrecht municipalities expect a deficit of almost eighty million. A year later, the expected deficit has already risen to almost a hundred million.
The problem is not unique to this region. Dutch municipalities expect a joint budget deficit of 1.1 billion euros in the so-called ‘ravine year’ 2026. Last year they still had 3.7 billion euros left. In 2026, the municipalities will together receive approximately 3 billion euros less from the government.
The following year, in 2027, municipalities also expect a deficit of one billion euros. In the meantime, they retain the same number of tasks and assignments, such as youth care, elderly care and energy issues. Staff shortages make implementation extra difficult.