priorities are education and public transport

According to Tallinn Mayor Jevgeni Osinovski, the capital adheres to a balanced budget policy, and the condition for additional spending is increasing the efficiency of the city system.

“First of all, it is important to emphasise that Tallinn will retain all current social benefits and privileges for city residents, as we must support our people in difficult economic times. At the same time, our investment programme is very ambitious in both content and scope. The highest priority is education, which includes the reconstruction of schools and kindergartens, as well as the construction of new buildings, so that all children have a place in a kindergarten and school near their home. One of the most significant innovations will be an investment of more than 100 million in public transport, which will bring new trams, trolleybuses and buses to our streets. Construction of the Liivalaia-Kristiine tram line will also begin, with a comprehensive reconstruction of the roads and the creation of a transfer hub in Kristiine. We will continue to create new green areas and improve the existing ones: the main objects are Putukavaila and Glintovi Park, as well as the reconstruction of Lembitu Park and the creation of the Ukraina Square.”

During the period covered by the strategy, investments will continue in all areas of the city. The largest amount of investments are still planned for the areas of education, mobility and urban landscape.

In the field of education, the school network will be put in order and the school buildings will be completely reconstructed. Each year, 4-5 kindergartens will be renovated, the construction of an extension to the Tallinn Real School will be completed, the renovation of the old building of the Hiiu School and the construction of an extension, as well as the reconstruction of the school building at Karjamaa 18 will be completed. In addition, the construction of new buildings for the Kullo Hobby Centre, Tallinn Heleni School and Nõmme Basic School will begin.

In the cultural sector, the construction of the new building of the Tallinn City Theatre will be completed in 2025. During the strategic period, the development of the botanical garden, city museum and zoo will continue. In the context of the city museum, attention is focused on investments related to the creation of an open storage facility. The development of the Tallinn Film City will continue.

In the field of sports, the reconstruction of the Kadriorg stadium sports complex will continue, and the construction of public sports facilities will be completed within the framework of the European Capital of Sports 2025 program. Preparations for the construction of an Olympic-sized swimming pool on Varraku Street will also continue.

In the field of social welfare and health care, the design of the Tallinn Hospital will continue, and the construction of several new buildings and social welfare centres for various target groups will begin (including the Käo support centre, the new building of the Tallinn Child Welfare Centre and the new building of the Juks support centre).

In the field of urban development and planning, a social house will be built on the site of the former Mustamäe District Government building. Two social houses will also be built in Põhja-Tallinn. Large-scale reconstruction of dormitory-type buildings will begin with the support of climate funds. A pilot project for installing elevators in five-story buildings will continue.

In the area of ​​mobility, investments are planned during the budget strategy period in improving the convenience and environmental friendliness of public transport, as well as in reconstructing roads and streets, taking into account the needs of all road users. It is planned to update the rolling stock of public transport and the infrastructure for its operation. During the reconstruction of streets, bicycle paths will be created. Among the most important projects are the project of the main street of the city, the reconstruction of Peterburgskoe Shosse, Liivalaia, Suur-Ameerika, Endla, Tulika, Linnu tee, Rahumäe tee and Nõmme city centre roads with the creation of rainwater infrastructure. With the help of external financing, the construction of tram tracks in Pelguranne, on Liivalaia and Suur-Ameerika streets, as well as bicycle paths and transport hubs will begin. In order to improve pedestrian safety, it is planned to build underpasses under the railway tracks on Endla Street and the Rail Baltic route.

In the area of ​​utility networks, it is planned to introduce energy-efficient and smart solutions for street lighting, as well as accelerate the transition to LED luminaires for outdoor lighting. More attention will be paid to improving the external lighting of parks and kindergartens. For more efficient drainage of rainwater, the separation of combined sewer systems will continue, as well as the construction of collectors and diversion channels.

In the area of ​​urban landscape and environmental protection, the development of the city’s green infrastructure, improvement of parks, beaches and green areas, creation and renovation of children’s playgrounds, as well as development of cemeteries and circular economy centres will be continued. Reconstruction works are planned in many city parks. The largest investments will go to the creation of Putukaväila and Klintova Park, as well as the construction of the Järveotsa promenade. The plans also include a complete reconstruction of Lembitu Park, including the creation of a Ukrainian garden, improvement of Pae Park and the beach area of ​​Lake Harku, as well as the development of green areas around the Old Town.

The city’s own funds, the proposed European support for the new period in the maximum available amounts, and subsidies from the state budget are used to finance the investments. Partial financing by means of credit funds is also planned, while the debt burden should be kept at a moderate level. During the period of the budget strategy, the main goals of the city’s budget policy remain maintaining a positive net income from core activities in an amount that at least covers the main part of debt obligations (repayments and interest). In addition, the goal is to ensure liquidity that covers city expenses for at least two weeks, which is at least 40 million euros.

The budget strategy for 2025-2028 contains forecasts of the city’s financial capabilities for the next four years, based on the circumstances and factors known at the time the strategy was drafted.

The budget strategy sets target revenue levels for the city’s structural units and annual spending limits. The strategy also provides city residents and cooperation partners with an overview of the city’s development directions and the financial opportunities for their implementation.