Around 100 demonstrators gathered in heavy rain outside Sparekassen Thy Arena in Nykøbing Mors on Tuesday, as Morsø Municipality’s council began its first reading of a budget containing up to 50 million kroner in savings.
DR reports that 17 local politicians were met by the protesters when they arrived at 5 p.m. for the first treatment of the municipality’s budget for the coming four years. The plan involves savings of up to 50 million kroner over the coming years, according to DR.
The council meeting had been moved to the arena because a large number of listeners had signed up in advance. DR notes that the budget remains open to negotiation between the parties on the council.
The protests were directed in particular at plans to close M.C. Holms Skole in Nykøbing Mors and move its pupils to Dueholmskolen. Demonstrators also opposed the proposed closure of two childcare institutions, Børnehaven Lundkjærvej in Nykøbing and Majgården in Frøslev.
What the budget draft contains
As reported by LimfjordUpdate, the draft budget agreement covers the years 2027 to 2031. It includes closing M.C. Holms Skole and creating a single larger school at Dueholmskolen.
According to the same outlet, that change is calculated to save 2.9 million kroner a year from 2029. Closing Børnehaven Lundkjærvej is estimated to save 1.4 million kroner annually from 2029.
LimfjordUpdate further reports that closing Børnehuset Majgården on Midtmors is expected to save just under 1.7 million kroner a year. The three closures together account for a part of the total savings package.
One of the demonstrators, Louise Breinholt, told DR that there is a waiting list for Børnehaven Lundkjærvej. She said she does not understand why a well functioning and sought after kindergarten would be closed.
Breinholt has moved back to Mors from Aarhus, and she described the closures as working against what makes the island distinctive. Per DR, she said she was moved by the number of people who turned up to protest in pouring rain.
Another demonstrator, Pia Møller Johansen, said the three institutions on Mors should be preserved. As stated by her to DR, she attended M.C. Holms Skole herself, and her son’s future is at stake.
DR has corrected its original article, which stated that Morsø Municipality was to save 50 million kroner next year. The savings are instead spread across the coming years.
