Fixing the Finances – Strengthening the Community
Responsible financial management is the foundation of a strong community and better services for the residents of Seltjarnarnes. One of our most important tasks is to ensure that municipal funds are used with foresight and discipline to support strong infrastructure and improve quality of life for the future. This requires an integrated approach in which financial stability and sound governance go hand in hand.
It is clear that the challenges arising from accumulated deficits and rising debt over the past decade must be addressed. The municipality’s debt burden has significantly limited its ability to maintain and develop infrastructure. We will ensure balanced operations by strengthening revenue sources and improving efficiency without reducing essential services. All procurement and major projects must be managed professionally and through competitive tendering in order to maximize the use of funds and safeguard shared assets in the long term.
We will restore financial stability and strengthen the community
- Streamline municipal operations while safeguarding core services, ensuring that residents continue to receive high-quality services despite greater demands for efficiency.
- Increase transparency and accountability through regular reporting and open financial disclosure, so that residents can clearly see how public funds are used.
- Strengthen long-term revenue by developing the town center and attracting more businesses to the peninsula.
- Maintain municipal assets consistently in order to protect their value and avoid costly repairs.
- Generate new tourism revenue by improving facilities and management at Grótta.
- Present realistic budgets in which revenues cover expenditures, ensuring that today’s decisions do not place a burden on future generations.
- Reduce municipal debt systematically to lower interest costs and create room for necessary infrastructure investment.
- Manage municipal assets professionally to maximize the value of real estate and capital assets.
- Increase purchasing power through transparent procurement and ensure that all major projects are subject to open tendering processes.
Safe and Progressive School Community
The education and well-being of children are the most important investments in Seltjarnarnes. Our schools should be among the best, with outstanding staff and exemplary facilities that support every child’s development and safety. A healthy learning environment requires that maintenance be prioritized and that a clear plan be implemented to address mold and neglect. We place strong emphasis on early intervention and accessible support services so that children and families receive assistance quickly when needed. We will bridge the gap between parental leave and preschool and ensure moderate fees to ease the burden on families.
We will build a safe and progressive school environment.
- Bridge the gap between parental leave and preschool through structured admissions twice a year, in September and January.
- Accelerate improvements to school playgrounds in collaboration with students, staff, and parents.
- Implement comprehensive renovations of school buildings according to a clear timeline to ensure a safe environment for students and staff.
- Improve traffic safety for children and reduce vehicle speeds near schools.
- Improve access to counseling and support services, with faster response times.
- Complete preschool construction develop long-term plans for other preschool facilities such as Mánabrekka and Sólbrekka.
- Ensure equal access to extracurricular activities for all children.
- Strengthen cooperation between schools and sports clubs and intergraded services
- Support professional development of teachers and staff.
- Ensure high-quality special education and individualized support.
- Evaluate a new preschool model in which children’s interests are the guiding priority along with parent's and teacher's.
- Delay the school start time by 20 minutes and reintroduce a morning meal program to reduce stress.
Blooming Sports and Leisure Activities for All
Sports and leisure activities are central to children’s upbringing in Seltjarnarnes, where self-confidence and social connections are formed. We aim to ensure equal opportunities for participation by strengthening cooperation with sports clubs and arts schools, coordinating summer programs, and safeguarding important preventive initiatives. With predictable funding and improved facilities, we will create a supportive environment in which all children can thrive on their own terms.
Our goal is to gain a comprehensive overview of municipal spending on the operation of sports clubs and facilities. We also emphasize the importance of reducing social isolation and strengthening mental health by supporting the local youth center. Seltjarnarnes should be a model community in which sports, arts, and recreational activities are accessible to all, and where family finances do not prevent children from participating.
Sports, Arts and Leisure Activities for all.
- Increase leisure grants in line with inflation so that they retain their value and continue to provide meaningful support to families with children.
- Strengthen the Sel youth center and youth house through improved facilities, strong professional staffing, and extended opening hours, ensuring that all young people have a safe and supportive space.
- Coordinate all municipal summer programs comprehensively, in cooperation with sports clubs, arts schools, municipal institutions, and other stakeholders, with a clear cap on participation costs for families.
- Expand the range of courses for children aged 10–12 to bridge the gap between children’s and youth programs and better meet the needs of this age group at Sel.
- Maintain evening opening hours at Seltjarnarnes Swimming Pool so that residents can access and enjoy health-promoting services for longer.
- Establish a special leisure grant for children from lower-income households to ensure equal opportunities and enable all children to participate in organized activities regardless of financial circumstances.
- Strengthen cooperation with independent arts schools so that high-quality education in dance and drama can continue to grow and thrive.
- Develop a long-term plan for the maintenance and development of sports facilities in cooperation with sports clubs, guided by predictability and safety.
- Update agreements with sports clubs to reflect the requirements of sustainable operations and strong youth programs.
- Engage young people in policy and decision-making through regular meetings between the municipal council, student councils, and the municipal youth council.
Model Welfare Community
Seltjarnarnes should be a model municipality in which residents of all ages can lead independent and fulfilling lives in a safe environment. We prioritize integrated services and diverse housing options so that people can remain in their own homes for as long as possible and downsize within Seltjarnarnes as their needs change. We will reduce social isolation and ensure that services are always delivered in accordance with individual needs.
We will take action to support healthy aging. We want to simplify access to advice and information about the rights of older people and their families, as well as the services and resources available to them. Growing older in Seltjarnarnes should be a positive experience. We aim to create favorable conditions for older residents in daily life and leisure, while also easing the burden on their families.
Our goal is to remove barriers between systems and ensure integrated, timely services that improve quality of life for all residents. By using technological solutions and strengthening community engagement, we will foster a society in which well-being and safety are prioritized at every stage of life.
Building a Model Welfare Community
- Integrate home services and home nursing with a strong emphasis on rehabilitation, enabling residents to live safely and independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
- Use technological and remote solutions to increase independence, improve response times, and enhance service delivery.
- Ensure housing for older people is included in all new developments, making it easier to relocate and remain in Seltjarnarnes.
- Create a well-being hub in collaboration with the Association of Senior Citizens as a vibrant center for health promotion and social participation.
- Develop a targeted plan for housing solutions for people with disabilities, ensuring that services and living arrangements meet diverse individual needs with respect.
- Strengthen the role of preventive services and connect different policy areas in order to improve mental health and encourage greater physical activity across all age groups.
- Remove barriers between municipal and state services so that residents receive seamless support without unnecessary complexity or delay.
Diverse Cultural Life and Community Spirit
We aim to make Seltjarnarnes an inspiring cultural community with a vibrant local atmosphere. Our shared gathering places should better support residents’ initiatives, strengthen artistic activity, and thereby reinforce the town’s identity and the ties among us.
Our goal is for the community center and other key locations in the town to be lively meeting places and hubs for music, culture, and social innovation. We want to revive festivals that bring people together and create a cultural life in Seltjarnarnes that is accessible and inspiring for all generations.
Strengthening Cultural Life and Community Spirit
- Reopen the community center as a vibrant meeting place with active resident participation, where culture and community activities can flourish.
- Establish a digital collaboration platform for residents and associations to increase civic engagement and support innovation in cultural activities.
- Strengthen cultural initiatives through targeted support for artists and music schools,creating more opportunities for residents to participate actively.
- Develop a clear policy for cultural grants that supports diversity and enhances quality of life and community spirit.
- Create an annual events program featuring a diverse range of festivals, in close collaboration with associations and residents.
- Strengthen the library as a cultural and social hub that supports the town’s strong educational environment.
- Make use of the opportunities created by the opening of the Icelandic Institute of Natural History to attract cultural events and increase the appeal of Seltjarnarnes.
- Make better use of Eiðistorg for public life and events so that it becomes a vibrant center of the community.
Development That Delivers Results
The long-term sustainability of the Municipality of Seltjarnarnes depends on making the most of the opportunities in our surroundings to strengthen revenue and reduce debt. We aim to build a vibrant and attractive community in which thoughtful planning and a diverse social life go hand in hand with strong core services. By developing the town center and increasing the population in harmony with the community, we will improve municipal operations and enhance the well-being of all residents.
As the town grows, it is essential to strengthen transportation infrastructure and ensure safe, efficient traffic flow to and from the peninsula. We will make use of our role as a founding member of the Capital Area Transport Agreement to advance underutilized opportunities and improve connections across all modes of transport. Our goal is development that delivers tangible results for residents and businesses.
Promoting Effective Development
- Develop a comprehensive long-term vision for Eiðistorg and the town center, including mixed-use development on municipal land at Austurströnd and Eiðistorg, in close cooperation with residents and stakeholders.
- Revitalize Eiðistorg as the vibrant heart of the town by completing roof repairs, improving acoustics, and creating an attractive environment in collaboration with private partners in the area.
- Develop a modern quality-of-life hub for older residents, offering diverse housing options that meet needs at different stages of life.
- Improve traffic safety in all neighborhoods through targeted measures that prioritize pedestrian safety, including reduced speed limits.
- Strengthen public transport, ensuring that main Strætó routes serve the Grótta areaand connect more effectively with the growing activity at Grandi.
- Complete safe cycling routes along Nesvegur and create strong connections between the town, the university area in Vatnsmýri, and other key locations in the capital region.
- Improve access and management at Grótta by organizing parking and introducing fees, with exemptions for Seltjarnarnes residents.
- Strengthen outdoor facilities near the Icelandic Museum of Natural History by developing a high-quality plan for walking paths, supported by public infrastructure funding.
- Prioritize the Miklabraut tunnel project to improve transport flow for residents of Seltjarnarnes and strengthen connections to other parts of the capital area.
- Ensure systematic maintenance of the town’s road network by implementing and following a clear plan for improvements to streets and main roads within and leading to the peninsula.
Coastal Protection and Safety
Rising sea levels and changing weather patterns require a new approach in which prevention and forward-looking planning are given priority. We will base the design of infrastructure and municipal administration on 50-year projections. Our objective is to protect life, property, and infrastructure through targeted risk management and close cooperation with experts.
By renewing the drainage system and strengthening coastal defenses in exposed areas, we will reduce the risk of damage and pollution. We will use modern technology for real-time monitoring and ensure that evacuation routes and transport connections remain secure in cooperation with neighboring municipalities. Seltjarnarnes should be a safe community where people live in harmony with the forces of nature.
Coastal Protection and Municipal Safety
- Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment, map flood-prone areas, and present an adaptation plan in cooperation with residents and stakeholders.
- Repair and renew the municipal sewage system, with particular emphasis on separating stormwater and sewage to prevent damage and pollution during extreme rainfall.
- Strengthen coastal defenses in recreational and outdoor areas so that they are protected against increasing natural hazards and coastal flooding.
- Reinforce coastal protection for vulnerable residential areas, with particular focus on Suðurströnd and other designated risk zones where properties are close to the shoreline.
- Build capacity for infrastructure monitoring and rapid response by investing in equipment that tracks sea levels and drainage system conditions in real time.
- Coordinate emergency route planning with neighboring municipalities to ensure that road connections remain intact when they are needed most.