Tampere committee backs 2027 budget focused on youth education, jobs and business growth

The Committee for Vitality and Competence (Elinvoima- ja osaamislautakunta) approved Tampere's 2027 budget proposal at its latest meeting, the City of Tampere said. "We want to invest in young people's education, employment and the city's vitality despite a difficult economic situation," Deputy Mayor Jaakko Mustakallio said.

The decision comes after reports of a roughly €165 million operating shortfall and debates over employment and upper-secondary completion reported earlier this week. It ties into the Housing and Real Estate Committee's plans to prioritise school and daycare investments reviewed on 3 September.

The committee highlighted measures to support upper-secondary students' learning and completion. To prepare for rising numbers in general upper-secondary education, it plans to strengthen guidance and teaching. A new Hakametsä high school unit under Sammon keskuslukio is scheduled to open in August 2027. Employment and Growth Services will continue programmes to boost employment, support entrepreneurship and curb rising unemployment benefit costs.

Members updated the criteria for vitality grants to better target employment, internationalisation and economic growth. New instruments include a transitional labour market employment grant for the long-term unemployed and a business and innovation policy grant to strengthen research, development and innovation. It also approved an internationalisation voucher pilot offering employers a €3,000 subsidy for hiring an international higher-education student for a paid internship, with funding for ten placements. The budget proposal now moves to the mayor's budget and will be decided by the city council in November.