Oostende faces estimated 15 million euro loss in municipal funding

Oostende is projected to lose approximately 15 million euros from the Flemish Municipal Fund between 2027 and 2031. According to calculations by Lokaal Nieuws, the city is expected to be the hardest hit in the region, following Brugge.

The shortfall follows an announcement by the Flemish Government in its September Declaration, which stated that while the Municipal Fund will continue to grow, that growth will be tempered. While the fund's main allocation has previously grown by 3.5 percent annually, new projections suggest growth will slow to 1 percent in 2027 and 1.25 percent in 2028.

The VVSG, an umbrella organization for Flemish cities and municipalities, estimates that local governments collectively will receive about 1 billion euros less than expected over the 2026-2031 period. The measure is not yet finalized, as the Flemish Parliament must first amend the decree regarding the growth rates.