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YOUNG PEOPLE NEEDED: Several millionaires pack their bags and move to the small municipality of Bø in Vesterålen after the municipality decided to reduce the new year’s estate tax. Now the mayor will use affordable housing to attract young people to the districts. Photo: Marius Birkeland
In a meeting with District Minister Linda Hofstad Helleland, the mayor of “Norway’s Response to Monaco” put forward proposals for young people to return to the districts.
– I recorded a very concrete proposal: Conservatives should support the construction of VAT-free housing in the districts.
This is what the mayor of Bø, Sture Pedersen (H) says. On Thursday evening, he met with District Minister and Digitization Linda Hofstad Helleland in Bodø to discuss district politics. His own goal was to present strategies for the youth to return to the districts. Pedersen believes that the key to achieving this is cheaper housing.
– The construction of houses hardly exists in the district of Norway. And I think that’s an important factor in keeping young people from moving to the districts, says Pedersen.
Starting in the small New Year, the small municipality of Vesterålen will reduce the municipal wealth tax to 0.20 percent. The decision has attracted attention and has been criticized for not sympathizing with other municipalities. However, it has been enough to attract more wealthy Norwegians to report that they have moved into the municipality. According to Pedersen, the “rich” have pledged to invest in the local community, which he hopes will create more jobs.
But with jobs, you also need housing.
– As it is now, it is almost like sending a rocket when someone builds new houses in the District of Norway. That is what the lifeblood will recover. Housing and housing have a lot to say, he says.
– Allow to think of new
Linda Hofstad Helleland confirms through her adviser Kaia Jarlsby that Pedersen presented the proposal on Thursday. He commends the mayor for his proposals for concrete measures to lift the districts and for being creative and courageous.
Helleland points out that, however, the VAT exemption on housing construction in the districts must be compared with other measures targeting the districts of Norway.
– We must not forget that today we spend 47 billion directly in the state budget on measures to contribute to the activity and settlement throughout the country. But he must be allowed to think of new things, and the proper mayor in Bø does, Helleland writes in an email to VG.
She emphasizes that she responds by virtue of being the leader of the Conservative Party’s program committee.
SEEKING OPINIONS: On Thursday, District and Digitization Minister Linda Hofstad Helleland received comments from Bø Mayor Sture Pedersen and Conservative parliamentary candidate Bård Ludvig Torheim on district policy work on coastal growth and development . Photo: Hallgeir Vågenes
– Doesn’t Pedersen’s proposal indicate that what the government is currently doing is not good enough?
– It will be a little easy presentation. The $ 47 billion includes, for example, differentiated employer contributions, which are our most important district policy instrument. That said, I am fundamentally confident that mayors and others in the district of Norway came up with proposals to create life in their own municipality. We must hear that.
Helleland notes that people moving from town to town is a trend that has lasted for many decades, under various governments. She doesn’t believe that “more and higher state taxes” is the solution to that problem.
Measures against “nursing homes”
Pedersen believes that the VAT exemption on the construction of houses in the districts can help young people to return to the districts. If unsuccessful, the District of Norway will become “an old home,” he believes.
– The hope is that it will be easier for young people to find their own home. I think this may be a good district policy measure along with more jobs.
According to Pedersen, the meeting was the beginning of a dialogue that will be followed in the future and “landed” before the national meeting of the Conservatives in March.
– Wouldn’t this be very expensive for the state?
– Probably someone will. But I’ll give you one reasoning: when houses are not built in the districts, the state does not receive money either.
He adds that he believes construction will also have large positive local ripple effects.
– For construction companies, electricians and plumbers. You get great effect and great optimism.
Pedersen feels conservatives will apparently prioritize district politics going forward, with what he describes as satisfied.
– What I have asked is that we be concrete in our actions. We should not speak in general and make committees and reports. Because what is happening in the District of Norway is dramatic. We have to take radical measures so that we can continue to have settlements, he says.
