What does the national budget mean to you?
The national budget for 2027 has been presented. Here are some of the issues NITO follows most closely and what we think about them.
NITO believes that the government does not follow up the municipalities' need for investments in emergency preparedness, climate change adaptation and critical infrastructure.
"The government's budget proposal is not proportionate to the challenges the municipalities are supposed to solve. The municipalities have to deal with a growing need for investment in emergency preparedness, climate adaptation and critical infrastructure, at the same time as many are already struggling financially," says NITO President Kjetil Lein.
Calls for a contingency package for the municipalities
The government proposes increased allocations for state emergency preparedness measures, but NITO lacks a similar investment in the municipalities.
"Municipal finances are preparedness. The municipalities are the first to face crises when they arise, so it is serious when the financial framework is not proportionate to the tasks they are expected to solve," says Lein.
NOK 120 million for engineering programmes
The Government proposes to strengthen engineering education by NOK 120 million. The funds will contribute to better funding for pre-courses, the Y-pathway, the three-semester scheme and science courses, among other things.
"We are very pleased that the government is raising recruitment and quality in engineering education. These are measures NITO Students and NITO have been asking for over time," says Jarand Byrkjeland, head of NITO Students.
NITO is also positive to the government's proposal to regulate student support in line with developments in the basic amount in the National Insurance Scheme.
"This provides financial predictability that is important to ensure that higher education is attractive over time," says Byrkjeland.
More NITO cases in the budget
NITO has also provided input on these issues in the national budget.
New study places for the biomedical laboratory science programme
The government's proposal for 20 new study places in the biomedical laboratory science programme is an important step in the right direction, but it is only part of the solution. NITO Institute of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences has asked for 100 new, permanent study places annually. The shortage of biomedical laboratory technicians has already led to laboratories employing non-authorised personnel, which challenges quality, patient safety and legal responsibility.
More study places must also be accompanied by enough internships and good guidance, and a clearer focus on continuing and further education.
NOK 250 million for the Oslo Fjord
NITO thinks it is positive that the government is allocating funds to the Oslo Fjord, but what is really needed is funds for upgrading water and sewage in the municipalities that have runoff to the Oslo Fjord. The Government proposes to continue support for the planning and engineering of nitrogen removal at treatment plants in the catchment area of the Oslo Fjord, with a total framework of NOK 94.8 million in 2027. This is positive. However, this is not support for the construction itself or a general scheme for the renewal of water and wastewater infrastructure. The Government is planning to continue the self-cost principle.
Increase in the trade union deduction
The trade union deduction is adjusted from NOK 8700 to NOK 8950. It is positive that the Government continues to support organised labour by increasing the trade union deduction by 2.9 per cent, slightly above the expected inflation rate in 2027.
The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority – no real increase
The Government proposes to increase the allocation to the Labour Inspection Authority's operating budget to NOK 982.1 million in 2027. This is an increase of NOK 25.7 million compared with the balanced budget for 2026, including price and wage adjustments.
Digital security
NITO welcomes the strengthening of digital security. We have particularly called for a stronger KommuneCERT. The municipalities need both guidance and resources to implement the necessary security measures. Digital preparedness is also about the people who build, operate and secure the municipalities' systems. The initiative must therefore be accompanied by a competence boost and a better framework for recruiting and retaining engineers and technologists who build, operate and secure the systems
Strengthening of KommuneCERT
NITO is positive to the Government's proposal to increase the allocation to the Health and Local Government CERT by NOK 12.5 million, to a total of NOK 25 million. This is a clear follow-up of NITO's demand for the continuation and strengthening of KommuneCERT in 2027, which will provide greater capacity for prevention, coordination, practical help and handling of digital incidents in the municipalities. It is important that the initiative provides the municipalities with operational support, not just more advice. The budget's emphasis on practical help is therefore particularly positive.
Cuts in energy measures in buildings
NITO believes that the government's proposal to incorporate the earmarked support for energy measures in municipal buildings is unwise. At the same time, the government proposes to cut the earmarked ENOVA funds for energy measures. The sum of the measures is fewer incentives for energy efficiency and less power freed up for industry, business and electrification.
Cuts to the study associations
There is a cut in allocations to the study associations of about 50 percent. The cut comes against the background of the bankruptcy of the Workers' Enlightenment Association (AOF Norway) in 2024 and a decline in course offerings from the study associations. This will affect the unions' offer of skills development for their members, including NITO.
Lack of municipal support for water and sewage
NITO has not received support for the main demand for state funding of water and wastewater investments. The government acknowledges the large backlog in the wastewater sector, but rejects state investment support and sticks to the self-cost principle. NITO has called for support for pipeline renewal, stormwater management and inter-municipal water and wastewater projects.
Climate adaptation: Simpler applications do not protect municipalities against flooding
The Government proposes to merge the three municipal support schemes: Climate Rate, Grants for Climate Change Adaptation and Nature Rate. The new scheme will strengthen the municipalities' capacity and ability to implement and provide greater freedom to prioritise local climate and nature measures. NITO supports the merger, but the ambition must be more than gathering three schemes under one name. We have asked for significantly stronger funding and for the support to also include physical climate adaptation measures. The municipalities must be helped to implement the measures, not just study them.
Wind power revenues to the municipalities
The host municipalities will have access to income from wind power earlier. NITO believes that this is important for us to get more power earlier. The change will help to strengthen local acceptance and help us speed up wind power development in several municipalities. The scheme is linked to the administration of the production tax for wind power, and it will be administered by the NVE.
Too little for the digital foundation
NITO welcomes the Government's proposed strengthening. NOK 15 million is proposed for enhanced ecom and NOK 25 million for measures that facilitate military needs in the northernmost counties. A total allocation of NOK 451.3 million does not meet NITO's requirement of at least NOK 850 million in 2027. The digital foundation needs a major boost. NITO is therefore maintaining the requirement for a stronger allocation in the budget process, so that the ambitions for digitalisation are followed by adequate security and emergency preparedness.
The oil pioneers
The Government does not propose to increase compensation for oil pioneers in the national budget for 2027, despite the Storting's request for an improved level of compensation. NITO is disappointed that funds are not set aside for a fairer scheme for chemically damaged oil pioneers. We have previously asked for the compensation to be increased to 65 G and for the scheme to be expanded so that more occupational groups and diagnoses can be covered when research documents the association with harmful exposure. NITO expects the Storting to follow up the matter in the budget deliberations.
