The budget result of all Flemish municipal authorities together was -116 million euros in 2021. The budget result is the difference between all revenue and expenditure for the year.
That number has been going up and down for years. For example, it fell from €229 million in 2010 to -€699 million in 2014. In 2015, the result peaked at €1 billion, but then fell again to -€496 million in 2018. In 2020 was again a positive result of 185 million euros, but last year it fell again to -116 million euros.
The per capita budgetary outturn of municipalities varies considerably between municipalities. In 2021, 153 of the 300 Municipalities had a positive budget result and 147 Municipalities had a negative result.
In 30 municipalities the negative balance sheet result was less than -200 euros per inhabitant. These municipalities also include central cities such as Bruges, Roeselare and Kortrijk. In 117 municipalities the budget result is between -200 euros and 0 euros per inhabitant. In between are also cities like Ghent, Antwerp and Turnhout.
In 135 municipalities there was a positive budget result of between 0 and 200 euros per inhabitant. This category includes the central cities of Aalst, Sint-Niklaas, Leuven, Genk, Ostend and Hasselt. In 15 municipalities, including the city center of Mechelen, the result was between 200 and 400 euros.
The budget result was 400-600 euros per inhabitant in two municipalities: Alveringem (538 euros per inhabitant) and Glabbeek (571 euros per inhabitant). In the municipality of Lokeren, the budget result was higher at 976 euros per inhabitant.
