City Council to consider AI fund of up to DKK 5 million and tax proposals on Wednesday

On Wednesday 7 October 2026, Aarhus City Council will consider a range of budget proposals under Economy and other matters — from artificial intelligence and digital autonomy to international workforce, safety funds, and proposals to change municipal tax. The Municipal Executive has already adopted technical corrections to the 2027–2030 budget proposal and recommended a state guarantee in 2027; now the parties’ priorities must enter the political negotiations.

What it means for you

This is about how Aarhus uses the fiscal room in the 2027–2030 budget: whether millions will go to AI and open source, whether the partnership on international workforce continues, and whether tax should rise, fall relative to other municipalities — or stay unchanged. The proposals can also affect safety in nightlife and residential areas, the restaurant sector, and funding for the LGBT action plan and an action plan against racism.

Background

The item bundles proposals 140–155. They were previously referred to the budget negotiations and considered together with the other budget proposals. After the City Council meeting on 9 September 2026, the case went to technical processing in the Municipal Executive. On 29 September 2026, the Municipal Executive could adopt the recommendation with technical changes per the note for the second technical processing, as well as a recommendation of a state guarantee in 2027.

In the city council debate on 9 September, the borgmester (mayor) outlined fiscal room of DKK 197 million more per year for operating costs over the coming four years and, on the other side, more than DKK 800 million for capital projects. At the same time, several parties emphasised pressure on the social sector and the need for political choices within the service ceiling.

Danmarksdemokraterne want a strategic investment fund for artificial intelligence with reinvestment of documented efficiency gains. Venstre want to go further with an AI investment fund of up to DKK 5 million annually, decentralised and anchored locally, with an annual status report to the City Council. Borgmesterens Afdeling assesses that the proposals align with the municipality’s AI direction, but that a fund alone does not create the shared technical and organisational foundation for scaling.

SF want greater digital autonomy through more open source solutions, analysis of IT spending, and funding for Aarhus to become a pilot municipality for OS2 school. Venstre, Konservative, and Liberal Alliance want to renew the partnership on international workforce with continuation of the current allocation of DKK 500,000 annually. Venstre has also proposed Invest in Aarhus, while LA, V, KF, DF, DD, and RV want a single entry point for the restaurant sector.

Danmarksdemokraterne want to restore the Opland fund and a nightlife safety package. Dansk Folkeparti proposes a new safety fund of DKK 2.5 million for targeted video surveillance. Enhedslisten want to allocate funds to the LGBT action plan and an action plan against racism, abolish the joint contribution, and restore welfare by raising tax by one (1) percent. Liberal Alliance want a relative reduction in municipal tax as well as less administration and more care; Danmarksdemokraterne want less bureaucracy and more welfare. Radikale Venstre propose one percent for Aarhus residents via participatory budgeting.

Figures and facts

• In the debate, the borgmester (mayor) put fiscal room at DKK 197 million more per year for operating costs over the coming four years and, on the other side, more than DKK 800 million for capital projects. (Appendix — City Council debate 09.09.2026)
• Venstre proposes an AI investment fund of up to DKK 5 million annually in the budget period. (Appendix — 141 AI must free up time for welfare)
• Borgmesterens Afdeling pointed out that the parties to Budget Agreement 2026 agreed on an investment fund of DKK 5 million in 2027 for AI projects, and that a shared foundation for scaling can cost DKK 10 million annually in 2027–2029 — totalling 15,000 t.kr. in 2027 and 2028, 15,000 in 2029, and 5,000 in 2030 (2027 prices). (Appendix — 140 & 141 Background A Strategic investment fund for artificial intelligence with reinvestment model and AI must free up time for welfare)
• According to SF, Aarhus Municipality’s annual IT spending is DKK 287 million, of which DKK 47 million goes to Microsoft licences and DKK 65 million is not controllable; the remaining DKK 175 million should be analysed with a view to more open source. (Appendix — 142 Greater digital autonomy)
• Børn og Unge assess that a possible switch to OS2skole would affect more than 29,000 pupils as well as teachers and other staff; the background note states, among other things, DKK 1,050 t.kr. in 2027 and DKK 1,200 t.kr. in 2028 for analysis, as well as funding for pilot and teacher support in the millions. (Appendix — 142 Background A Greater digital autonomy)
• The partnership on international workforce is proposed to continue with DKK 500,000 annually. (Appendix — 143 Renewed and targeted partnership on international workforce - V, KF and LA)
• Dansk Folkeparti proposes a safety fund of DKK 2.5 million for targeted video surveillance. (Agenda — Budget proposals Economy and other matters)

Who said what

In the city council debate on 9 September, the borgmester (mayor) stressed that finances are under pressure and that parties that want a lot must also say where money and the service framework should come from. SF’s Mette Bjerre pointed to fiscal room of nearly DKK 200 million and savings of 1.375 percent to support the social sector in solidarity — and warned against cherry-picking.

Venstre’s Martin Christensen emphasised accessibility, primary schools, and clubs and sports. Enhedslisten’s Sarah Jarsbo highlighted that nearly DKK 200 million in fiscal room is not felt in schools, the social sector, and cultural life, and that the party stood outside the adjustment plan in the spring. Liberal Alliance’s Louise Svenstrup made a new budget model for the social sector what the party measures the budget by, and referred to a model from 2012 and a possible deficit of up to DKK 600 million in 2030. Danmarksdemokraterne’s Jakob Søgaard Clausen wants to spend more where residents feel it and less on the system. Dansk Folkeparti’s Thomas Christensen went into negotiations with safety first — including more video surveillance and better lighting at dark bus stops.

On AI, Venstre wrote that the goal is not more projects but better welfare: «More time for welfare. Less time for bureaucracy. More time for people.» (translated from Danish) (Appendix — 141 AI must free up time for welfare)

Borgmesterens Afdeling supports the direction but warns: «It is nevertheless Borgmesterens Afdeling’s assessment that investment funds in themselves do not establish the enabling foundation for scaling across the municipality.» (translated from Danish) (Appendix — 140 & 141 Background A Strategic investment fund for artificial intelligence with reinvestment model and AI must free up time for welfare)

What happens next

On Wednesday 7 October 2026, the proposals are before the City Council in the council chamber as part of the second reading of the budget. The parties must negotiate which of proposals 140–155 are included in a possible budget agreement for 2027–2030 — including the AI fund, open source analysis, partnership on international workforce, safety funding, and the tax proposals.

Sources

• Agenda — Budget proposals Economy and other matters
• Appendix — City Council debate 09.09.2026
• Appendix — 141 AI must free up time for welfare
• Appendix — 140 & 141 Background A Strategic investment fund for artificial intelligence with reinvestment model and AI must free up time for welfare
• Appendix — 142 Greater digital autonomy
• Appendix — 142 Background A Greater digital autonomy
• Appendix — 143 Renewed and targeted partnership on international workforce - V, KF and LA
• Aarhus Municipality meeting documents — meeting
• Aarhus Kommune

Other appendices

• Appendix — 140 Strategic investment fund for artificial intelligence with reinvestment model