Only 22 of the 45 Danish municipalities that applied for special state grants have received money, and several mayors say the 1 billion kroner pool falls far short of what they need.
The special grant pool, known as særtilskudspuljen, was distributed to municipalities with particularly strained finances. DR reports that the 45 applicants had asked for a combined 2.7 billion kroner. Just under half of them, 22 municipalities, were awarded a share.
One of the largest recipients is Langeland Municipality, which received 68 million kroner after applying for 115 million. Mayor Jørgen Nielsen of the Conservative People’s Party told DR the decision felt like a bucket of cold water over his head. He noted the amount is only three million kroner more than in previous years.
According to Nielsen, that increase does not even cover price and wage adjustments. He said he was deeply disappointed, given signals from the government about reducing differences between rural areas and cities. He expects the result will be historic savings in Langeland.
Hedensted Municipality received nothing after applying for 90 million kroner. Mayor Ole Vind of Venstre said there is little understanding in the Ministry of the Interior that a mid-sized growth municipality can face problems. He added that after the equalization reform, Hedensted ranks as the fourth poorest municipality in Denmark.
Guldborgsund Municipality was granted 60 million kroner after applying for 200 million. Mayor Simon Hansen of the Social Democrats estimates the municipality must now find savings of 80 to 100 million kroner. He called the current equalization and grant system hopeless and said it has collapsed.
Lolland short of covering its deficit
Lolland Municipality is set to receive 223 million kroner. Mayor Marie-Louise Brehm Nielsen of the local list Din Stemme said the sum is more than 100 million kroner short of covering the deficit the municipality faces. She described the day as hard and called the equalization system undignified.
Per DR, mayors in Odsherred, Faxe and Vordingborg were somewhat more satisfied, with double-digit million kroner amounts. Those sums are also well below what the municipalities had applied for. The equalization system moves around 25 billion kroner each year between the richest and poorest municipalities.
Danske Kommuner reports that the ministry raised the pool in the summer economy agreement to help the municipalities under the greatest pressure. The Prime Minister’s Office announced on August 19, 2026, that the pool for the most challenged municipalities was being increased.
Economy and Interior Minister Pia Olsen Dyhr of the Socialist People’s Party did not comment on the criticism before DR’s deadline. In an earlier interview with DR, she said the government focused on the municipalities most in need. She also said problems will remain even under a new equalization system, because the criteria cannot always be set correctly.
