The villages in Fjord municipality have had a negative population trend in recent years. What is needed to reverse this development is a big question. Good ambassadors who talk about the municipality and the offers that exist are a prerequisite for success.
When we hear the reactions to proposals for the introduction of property tax on houses and cottages, both among those who live here permanently and those who have cottages, we fear a large dropout of such ambassadors.
This municipality imposes property tax on everyone
Reduced appetite for housing and less local patriotism makes it difficult to make financial projections. But there is little doubt that a further decline in the population, reduced voluntary efforts and a bad reputation will also be a negative economic factor in the operation of the municipality.
For the individual citizen, it is not just their own finances that influence the attitudes of their own local communities, it is often about how one feels that the politician valued his citizens.
For the cabin people, it is a bit the same as debt, a village that values what the cabin people add, contributes positively to their attitude to local business and the will to contribute to the local community. We have many cottagers who have meant a lot to positive development in our villages.
If one uses public figures to calculate the value of voluntary efforts in Fjord municipality, the calculator shows +30 million with figures for the national average. We all know that the inhabitants of Fjord are far above the national average. Therefore, it is best not to think about the cost of a reduced desire for housing and local patriotism in the form of less activity and fewer leisure activities, not least for children and young people.
Viktor Norman, who led the demography committee and gave a lecture in Stordal in 2023, had a very important point that may be worth bringing up now. «The biggest obstacle to people wanting to build and settle in rural areas is the fear of a big loss on the housing investment if they decide to sell in the future.”
Property tax will greatly contribute to this fear being reinforced and thus reduce the possibility that there will be someone who takes the chance. If there is something we really need, there are more people who want to settle in our villages.
For those who have their own home in Fjord municipality, the reduced market value of the home comes in addition to the tax itself. With the house prices we have seen in our villages in recent years, it is no wonder that many house owners are worried and despair that after 8 February (municipal council) things may get even worse.
Instead of new taxes, why not intensify the work to get more people moving to our villages? A positive population development of 50–70 people will generate greater income than the maximum expected increase in income from property tax.
Our villages need more people, enthusiasm and local patriotism, not more taxes.