I voted against Västra

Kirkkonummi municipal council decided on 11 May 2026 to join the Västra cooperation with Siuntio, Inkoo, Raseborg and Hanko. I proposed rejecting the agreement, but we lost the vote.

Why did I vote against Västra?

Kirkkonummi’s success is built on its proximity to the Helsinki metropolitan area. We already have functioning channels for influencing regional development: HSL public transport, the MAL cooperation (land use, housing and transport for the metropolitan area), and neighbouring municipalities Siuntio and Inkoo. Västra redirects our attention and resources in the wrong direction.

The cost is over €38,000 per year. The agreement cannot be exited before 2029, and even then withdrawal is not unilateral — it requires approval from the other member municipalities. The agreement also allows for unexpected additional costs that would not go to a council vote.

At the same time, education, schooling and early childhood services face spending cuts every year. These are the services residents expect us to invest in, and where every euro shows directly in a child’s everyday life. That is where we must direct our resources, especially in a tight fiscal situation.

Below is my speech in the municipal council that decided the matter on 11 May 2026.

My speech to the council on 11 May 2026

Thank you, Chair, tack ordförande.

Kirkkonummi is a municipality whose success and future are closely tied to the Helsinki metropolitan area. Our residents work, study and use services in the metropolitan area. What makes Kirkkonummi a desirable place to live is its nature, living environment, good transport connections and high-quality services. These are our strengths, and they are what we should invest in.

The Västra cooperation redirects our attention and resources away from the metropolitan area. We should focus our resources on what has already been proven to work: cooperation towards the metropolitan area and developing our own municipality.

At the same time, the municipality’s financial situation requires responsible and considered decisions from us. Every year we have to make painful decisions in the context of the budget. In addition, investments that are essential for the municipality’s service structure require careful financial planning.

The recorded costs of the Västra cooperation for Kirkkonummi are over €38,000 per year, and the agreement cannot be exited before 2029. In addition, the cooperation includes the possibility of unexpected additional costs that would not be decided in the council. Withdrawal is also not unilaterally possible — it requires approval from the other municipalities.

We could use this money for more important purposes that serve our residents more directly. For example, education, schooling and early childhood services are constantly under threat of various cuts. These are, however, things that are central to the municipality’s strategy and that our residents expect us to invest in.

We already have many functioning channels for influencing regional development and for cooperating with neighbouring municipalities, such as Siuntio and Inkoo. We have the opportunity to participate in metropolitan area transport projects, service development and regional planning.

We should also remember that Kirkkonummi has grown and prospered precisely because we have been able to leverage our proximity to the metropolitan area. We should continue along this path and ensure that we make decisions that strengthen our position as part of the metropolitan area.

I propose that the council reject the Västra cooperation agreement. This decision would be fiscally responsible and strategically sound. It would ensure that we can focus our money and attention on what matters to Kirkkonummi’s residents and businesses: strengthening cooperation with the metropolitan area and developing our own municipality’s services and vitality.

Thank you, tack.

The council voted to join Västra. Is this really just about €38,000, or about which direction Kirkkonummi faces in the future? The same challenge of evidence-based decision-making came up in the Western Rail Link vote. For the broader context on municipal finances, read Public transport cannot keep getting more expensive. Read more in my Western Uusimaa posts.