What happened
On Tuesday, the Social Democrats, the Left Party, and the Green Party presented their agreement to govern Malmö together until 2030. The parties are raising the municipal tax by 30 öre next year, which will provide approximately 280 million kronor extra to the municipality. The money will primarily be used to increase staffing ratios in preschools, schools, and care services, as well as for investments in the climate transition. For an individual with a monthly salary of 40 000 kronor, the increase amounts to approximately 75 kronor more in tax each month. The Left Party's demands for frozen rents and increased minimum wages were dropped during negotiations.
Our analysis
Municipal board chairperson Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh (S) and the new administration promise ambitious welfare investments, but exactly how the 280 million will be allocated remains unclear. For a person earning 40 000 kronor per month, the agreement costs an extra 75 kronor each month, but the funds must cover schools, elderly care, and climate investments. Mainstream news reporting has highlighted the unity between the parties, but has not examined what the Left Party's retreat on frozen rents means for Malmö residents with tight financial margins. The next decisive step will occur when the parties present their joint budget. Only then will it become evident how many new positions in classrooms and care the money can actually fund.
Explained
Municipal tax is the tax that residents pay to their municipality on their salary, which, among other things, finances preschools, schools, and elderly care.
Source: Sydsvenskan