The City Government of Tartu has submitted the draft budget for 2020 to the City Council of Tartu, which totals €208.1 million.

The focus of next year's budget is schools and nursery schools, a better living and business environment, and preparations for the Tartu 2024 European Capital of Culture programme.

"Energy-efficient and convenient public transportation, secure connecting roads in the form of the Riia viaduct and tunnels, and several cycle and pedestrian tracks, the renewal of streets in the heart of the city, the thorough renovation of street lighting in Annelinn, improved access and better parking conditions in the vicinity of the nine-storey buildings of Mõisavahe," were cited by Mayor Urmas Klaas as examples of future investments affecting the residents of Tartu and development of the living environment.

The mayor said education expenditures amount to 51 percent of the city's budget. In total, €14 million in investments are planned. "The city will continue implementing the school renovation plan – on Sept. 1, 2020, the city's largest school, the entirely renovated Annelinn Upper Secondary School will open its doors – and design work on the Kroonuaia School will begin. The Pääsupesa Nursery School and group rooms at several nursery schools will be renovated," said the mayor.

The focus in the social and health will be support for growing old in a dignified manner, improving the living conditions of disabled people, and developing lifesaving capabilities for residents.

Home care will be increased, preparations will be made for the construction of the Nõlvaku Nursing Home, and a strategic document for aging in a dignified manner will be prepared.

In addition, the number of dwellings of disabled people to be adapted to suit their residents' needs will be greater than originally planned. In the same way, approximately 1,300 students from the graduating classes of Tartu's basic schools will receive lifesaving first aid training. The city will build two social housing buildings on Tüve.

Preparations for the city becoming the 2024 European Capital of Culture and its programme have been included in the budget. Preparations for the cultural centre project in the heart of the city will also continue. To create better opportunities for residents to use athletic and recreational activities, construction of the Annemõisa indoor football hall will start, along with the construction of a new playground and athletic field in Annelinn. There are also plans to redevelop the shoreline of the Emajõgi River.

The city will continue to build cycle and pedestrian tracks. The cycle and pedestrian track in the direction of Vaksali Street – Estonian University of Life Sciences – Waldorf School and the Rahinge-Ilmatsalu cycle and pedestrian track will be completed. In the city centre, repairs to Vanemuise and Ülikooli streets will continue and work will begin on the construction of the Riia Highway viaduct and tunnels.

Additional investments will be made to develop the Smart Bike Share system and to the city's green areas and parks. The city will also support the development of community-based gardening.

A wage increase is also planned for school teachers, nursery schools, cultural and social workers.

Next year's budget will grow by €16 million, or more than 8 percent in comparison with the city's initial budget for 2019. 

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