In a new report from the Ministry of Finance, which has been published for the Danish Parliament, it has been revealed that state expenses for administration have increased by a whopping 11.2 billion kroner from 2017 to 2023. This increase nearly matches the simultaneous growth in municipal service expenses, which have also seen an increase of 11.7 billion kroner in the same period. These municipal service expenses cover important areas such as schools, daycare centers, and elderly care.
The Danish municipalities Association (KL) has made this comparison and found that the increase in expenses for state administration is on par with the total increases in municipal service budgets. This development has caused great frustration for KL’s chairman, Martin Damm, who is also the mayor of Kalundborg for the Liberal Party (Venstre). He expresses deep concern over the large amount of funds being used for administration at the state level.
“It’s outrageous. Someone simply must stop it. Someone in this country needs to take the lead in putting an end to it. No one has been elected on the promise of spending so much money on administration,” says Martin Damm to Berlingske.
This situation raises questions about the efficiency of public expenses and the allocation of resources, especially when it comes to welfare areas that directly affect citizens. It sparks a broader debate about how public funds are being used and the necessity of tighter control over expenses for administration.