North Holland’s Budget: A Right Old Kerfuffle!
Well, folks, it’s official: the Provincial Council (PS) of North Holland has approved the budget for 2025 and the integral Multi-Year Infrastructure Program. Wow, I’m sure you’re all on the edge of your seats. I mean, who doesn’t love a good budget report?
But before we dive into the juicy details, let’s set the scene. Imagine a room full of politicians, all passionately debating the finer points of fiscal policy. It’s like a Dutch version of a Monty Python sketch, minus the funny accents and silly hats.
So, what’s the big deal about the budget, you ask? Well, it’s not exactly a surprise that it was approved, but the margin of victory was a bit of a squeaker – 36 votes in favor and 18 against. I mean, it’s not exactly a landslide, is it? It’s like winning a game of bingo by just one number. "Oh, I’ve got the union, the commission, and… oh, yes, the prize!"
Now, let’s talk about the parties that didn’t get their way. The CDA, 50PLUS, D66, ChristenUnie, JA21, PVV, Volt, and Forum for Democracy all voted against the budget. It’s like they all showed up to the party with their arms crossed, refusing to dance. "I’m not going to play nice, I’m going to sulk in the corner and call for cuts!"
Cuts, Cuts, Everywhere
It seems like the biggest point of contention was the borrowing required to implement the plans. It’s like they’re all trying to balance their own checkbooks, but can’t quite get the numbers to add up. "We need to cut, we need to cut!" they cry. But what’s the alternative? Using a Ouija board to conjure up some more cash?
And then there’s the integrated Multi-Year Infrastructure Program (iMPI). Now, this is where things get really thrilling. It’s like trying to plan a road trip across Europe without a Sat Nav. You know, just a lot of guesswork and assumptions about which roads will be open and which ones will be closed.
The program contains all the planned replacement, improvement, and expansion projects for North Holland’s infrastructure. And the best part? It’s all been passed unanimously! Who knew that Dutch politicians could be so agreeable? Maybe they all had a nice cup of tea and a bitterballen beforehand.
The A9 Exit Scandal
But wait, there’s more! The SP motion to scrap plans for the A9 exit at Heiloo was rejected. Ah, come on, guys! You can’t just get rid of a plan like that. It’s like deciding to cancel a wedding because the cake doesn’t have enough sprinkles. I mean, what about all the poor people who were looking forward to that exit? "Sorry, mate, you’ll just have to exit at the next junction. Sucks, doesn’t it?"
All joking aside, it’s clear that the financial feasibility of these projects is a major concern. It’s like trying to buy a house without checking your bank account first. "Oh, I’m sure we can afford it, darling. We’ll just put it on the never-never!"
And that’s all for today’s installment of "Dutch Politics: The Thrilling Adventures." Tune in next time when we’ll be discussing the intricacies of… yawn… local government. Zzz…
