Youth care bill goes to secretary of state
Zoetermeer City Councilor Marijke van der Meer has mailed the Youth Care bill addressed to State Secretary Karremans. On Nov. 11, 2024, the Zoetermeer City Council passed a motion asking the college to send the bill for the rising costs of youth care in Zoetermeer to the cabinet. In response to the report "Growth Pain" by the Expert Committee, the Zoetermeer municipality is asking for €9.7 million in compensation over the years 2023 and 2024. The actual budget deficit in Zoetermeer is much higher.
Alderman Van der Meer believes further action from the state is crucial. In her letter to the state secretary, she writes that rising costs are forcing municipalities to make painful choices at the expense of essential tasks for residents. "If there is no sound funding from the state to the municipalities, we as a municipality have no choice but to make drastic cuts in facilities that are important for all children, such as libraries, city farms, sports facilities and playgrounds."
Downright painful
In February 2025, the Expert Committee Van Ark, presented the report "Growing Pains" to the State Secretary. It discussed the limited scope of the approach, lack of go-to power in the youth chain and little realism regarding savings and the timeline. Zoetermeer embraces the report, but finds it "downright painful" that it has not been advised to have the entire deficits over 2023 and 2024 compensated by the state, but only half of them.
Alderman Van der Meer calls on the state secretary to tighten the Youth Reform Agenda and adjust the funding of youth care to municipalities. "Precisely in the interest of vulnerable children and families, we embrace the report and urge the state secretary to do the same, but also to compensate the deficits over the years 2023 and 2024."
The letter and related memo to the City Council can be found at: Disposal of Motion 2411-26: Youth care bill to cabinet Zoetermeer - iBabs Public Portal
