The local struggle between Sipoo and Helsinki during this last year has awoken many thoughts. Has a bigger region a subjective right to expand? Who will determine what is for the best? Is it possible for a smaller community to have its own vision and take care of its own growth? My view is very clear in this matter: the local government should be respected.
Sipoo should be allowed to expand with it´s own resources and the way we want to do it. A rural district shall be allowed to expand and improve its profile based on own decisions.
Decisions should be made by the correct institution as close to the people that are affected as possible. A growth in the community puts pressure on the service. My view is that the community creates possibilities, supervises and make sure all necessary service is available for all inhabitants on for same grounds. Privatisation, buying services and competitiveness all give added value when the ground of service is being built. Though keeping in mind that bought monopoly is not better than community monopoly – there have to be a balance. To be able to compete for employees in the future the local districts needs to check their personnel politics. The local districts can never compete offering high salaries but they can reward, cherish and create a work environment that is attractive. Important is also that the user of the service can decide from who the service will be taken from. Service vouchers are an excellent way for additional choices. For local districts it is also worth investing in care – we will all need that. At the same time it is a correctly handled prevention service that will prevent costs in a later stage.
