On Wednesday, City Council considers 22 budget proposals on children and young people

On Wednesday 7 October 2026, Aarhus City Council will consider a package of budget proposals in the children and young people area as part of the second reading of the budget for 2027–2030. Among other things, the proposals point to a permanent increase of at least DKK 55 million annually for childcare, so the municipality can comply with the law on minimum staffing ratios.

What it means for you

If the proposals become part of the final budget agreement, it could mean more staff in nurseries and kindergartens, changed frameworks in schools, and new initiatives for children and young people in distress. What specifically ends up in the budget will be decided in the negotiations around the meeting.

Background

The item bundles 22 party proposals (nos. 118–139) on childcare, school, leisure activities, and early intervention. The proposals were previously referred to the budget negotiations and have been through technical processing in the Municipal Executive. On 29 September 2026, the Municipal Executive could endorse the recommendation with technical amendments to the 2027–2030 budget proposal and recommend a state guarantee in 2027.

In the city council debate on 9 September 2026, the mayor (borgmester) stressed that Aarhus has fiscal room but also a cap on municipal spending. “Overall, we have DKK 197 million more per year for operations over the next four years, and on the other side more than DKK 800 million for capital projects.” (translated from Danish) (Appendix — City council debate 09.09.2026)

In childcare, according to Enhedslisten, Radikale Venstre and SF, Aarhus faces pedagogical leaders’ working hours no longer counting towards staffing-ratio calculations from 1 January 2027, while the cap on parent fees is lowered from 25% to 21.3%. The parties assess that, at the current budget level, the municipality will not be able to comply with the law on minimum staffing ratios.

Figures and facts

• In 2024, staffing ratios in Aarhus were 2.9 children per staff member in nurseries and 5.8 in kindergartens — better than the legal requirements of 3.0 and 6.0. (Appendix — 118 Aarhus must comply with the law on minimum staffing ratios - EL, RV and SF)
• EL, RV and SF propose a permanent increase of at least DKK 55 million annually from 2027. (Appendix — 118 Aarhus must comply with the law on minimum staffing ratios - EL, RV and SF)
• Children and Young People assess that, all else being equal, Aarhus in 2027 will lack roughly 152 full-time positions compared with the 2024 level and roughly 24 full-time positions to comply precisely with the law. (Appendix — 118 Briefing A Aarhus must comply with the law on minimum staffing ratios)
• An increase of DKK 55 million can, according to Children and Young People, fund roughly 105 full-time positions; an increase equivalent to the 2024 level requires roughly DKK 80 million, while the minimum level requires roughly DKK 13 million. (Appendix — 118 Briefing A Aarhus must comply with the law on minimum staffing ratios)
• Venstre proposes an increase of at least DKK 40 million annually from 2027 for leadership, staffing ratios, and time for core tasks. (Appendix — 119 Strengthened quality in childcare — leadership, staffing ratios and time for core tasks)
• Danmarksdemokraterne propose a maximum of 10 children per room in nursery and 20 in kindergarten as part of a child-environment boost. (Appendix — 120 Child-environment boost — smaller groups of children and better physical settings)

Who said what

Enhedslisten, Radikale Venstre and SF want robust staffing ratios with headroom above the legal minimum and to maintain pedagogical leadership. “That is why SF, Enhedslisten and Radikale Venstre propose a permanent increase for childcare of at least DKK 55 million annually from 2027 onwards.” (translated from Danish) (Appendix — 118 Aarhus must comply with the law on minimum staffing ratios - EL, RV and SF)

Venstre, with Martin Christensen as proposer, wants to remove leaders from staffing-ratio calculations, introduce minimum staffing ratios at institution level, and strengthen pedagogical leadership. In the city council debate on 9 September 2026, Martin Christensen (V) pointed among other things to primary school as one of Venstre’s three top budget priorities. (Appendix — City council debate 09.09.2026)

Danmarksdemokraterne’s Jakob Søgaard Clausen, in the same debate, called for day-care institutions with proper physical settings and schools where teachers can support children earlier. Several parties also back proposals for two professional staff in early primary school and for school social advisers without authority responsibilities.

Children and Young People note in the briefing on the minimum staffing ratio proposal that the proposed changes to the law on both the calculation method and the parent fee share have not yet been adopted by Folketinget. (Appendix — 118 Briefing A Aarhus must comply with the law on minimum staffing ratios)

What happens next

On Wednesday 7 October 2026, City Council will consider the budget proposals on children and young people in the City Council chamber, together with the rest of the second reading of the budget. Negotiations before and during the meeting will decide which of the 22 proposals are included in the final agreement for 2027–2030.

Sources

• Agenda — Budget proposals Children and Young People
• Appendix — City council debate 09.09.2026
• Appendix — 118 Aarhus must comply with the law on minimum staffing ratios - EL, RV and SF
• Appendix — 118 Briefing A Aarhus must comply with the law on minimum staffing ratios
• Appendix — 119 Strengthened quality in childcare — leadership, staffing ratios and time for core tasks
• Appendix — 120 Child-environment boost — smaller groups of children and better physical settings
• Aarhus Kommune meeting documents — meeting
• Aarhus Kommune

Other appendices

• Appendix — 119 Briefing A Strengthened quality in childcare — leadership, staffing ratios and time for core tasks
• Appendix — 120 Briefing A Child-environment boost — smaller groups of children and better physical settings