Still small change for municipalities in times of crisis
- Now our politicians must understand how serious the backlog of critical infrastructure in the municipalities actually is. There is a great need for investments and funds for increased maintenance, but we did not see anything of this in the revised national budget," says Kjetil Lein, president of NITO.
- Several Norwegian municipalities report weak municipal finances, and the members of NITO are close to the consequences of this on a daily basis. We know that this affects critical infrastructure and critical services. This weakens the municipalities' ability to prevent and prepare for emergency preparedness and poses a risk to the safety of their citizens.
NITO has long pointed out that the municipalities are the first line in emergency preparedness work. They are the ones who operate the water, electricity, roads, ICT systems and the local crisis management. Even before the revised budget, more than half of Norwegian municipalities are struggling financially. When the framework barely increases in a demanding time, maintenance and investments in critical infrastructure are postponed.
See also: National Budget 2026: - Critical for local preparedness
A lack of room for manoeuvre for prevention, maintenance and expertise creates a backlog that makes society more vulnerable.
The government is allocating an extra NOK 100 million for a new 5G-based emergency network that will replace the current TETRA system. It is positive that it is a priority, but far from enough. The plan does not plan for completion until 2031. It is far too late given the current threat picture.
A delayed and underfunded emergency network means that emergency services and municipalities risk being left without robust communication when the crisis hits, especially in the event of prolonged power and electronic communications outages following extreme weather or sabotage.
- Strengthen municipal finances so that the municipalities can prioritise emergency preparedness, maintenance and expertise
- Speed up the emergency network through increased allocations and an earlier timetable than 2031
