Karlskrona Proposes Reducing Municipal Council Size to Cut Costs

Karlskrona’s municipal council is considering a proposal to reduce its number of elected members from 75 to 61, aiming to save an estimated 250,000 kronor annually. The proposal, set for a decision this coming Tuesday, draws on comparisons with 14 neighboring municipalities, where most have councils of 61 members, in line with legal minimums, while one has 65 members despite a smaller population than Karlskrona. Emma Swahn Nilsson, chair of the municipal council and a representative of the Moderate Party, supports the proposal, stating the current council is larger than comparable municipalities and asserting that a reduction would preserve democratic representation. However, opposition parties, including the Center Party led by Magnus Larsson, suggest a more moderate cut to 65 or 67 members, arguing that the primary cost issues relate to the number of paid municipal leaders rather than council size. The Christian Democrats back the reduction for cost-efficiency reasons, while Liberals have not taken a formal stance, and the Left Party expresses concerns about the broader costs of local politics. This proposal reflects ongoing efforts to streamline governance and balance democratic representation with financial prudence in Karlskrona's local government.