The total debt of Flemish municipalities and public social welfare centres (OCMWs) has risen to €8.6 billion, averaging €1,079 per resident, according to the latest annual accounts in the BBC Analysis Tool from the Flemish government, as reported by Nieuwsblad on Saturday.
Although 190 municipalities, representing 66.7%, managed to reduce their debts, a third of the administrations fell deeper into the red. In absolute terms, the city of Ghent tops the list, having recently announced significant budget cuts, with an outstanding debt close to €1 billion. Mechelen and Leuven follow at a distance with debts of €305 million and €254.7 million, respectively.
When adjusted for population size, the coastal municipalities of Middelkerke and Blankenberge have the highest debt per capita, with amounts of €4,463 and €3,826 per resident. They are followed by Ghent at €3,700, Ostend at €3,445, and Niel at €3,440 per resident. The average debt per resident in Flanders is €1,079, with Hemiksem (€44), Wommelgem (€28), and Ardooie (€27) showing the lowest debts per capita.
Overall, the debt of the municipalities increased by 1.4%. Last autumn, the Flemish government took over €273 million in debt from the thirteen newly merged municipalities.
