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number of measures were taken to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the
use of funds.
Globally, this is reflected in the reduction of the number of jobs over the same period
from 1,082 to 1,053 jobs which in turn is the result of a reduction of jobs in
the technical area from 67 to 23, in the educational and cultural area from 364 to
329, in central administration from 202 to 147, while for social services about 100
additional jobs were created (an increase from 450 to 552).
This success story is based on the following developments:
Better Services at a Lower Tax Burden
The ruling town hall coalition of Liberals and Conservatives has very forcefully
promoted its political programmed »Low local taxes while improving the offer of
local services« and has highlighted this specifically in its overall programmed
»Farum until the year 2000« as well as in a report which was published halfway
through their term of office and circulated to all households.
The dissemination and credibility of the policy of using tax money where it is of
the greatest benefits for the citizens, are very much furthered by the fact that the
mayor has a high personal profile in the municipality and takes people-orientation
seriously even if only small things are concerned. In a small municipality like Farum
citizen participation and involvement can still be achieved to a great extent
through personal contacts with the decision-makers. This is corroborated by the
additional eight seats which the mayor’s party won at the last local elections.
The fact that the directly affected groups of users of local facilities are usually involved
in the decisions on the use of the budgets of these facilities through their
representatives - e.g. parents’ councils for day-care facilities or schools, senior citizens’
councils for facilities for the aged, managing committees of clubs for sports
facilities - has also increased the influence of citizens on the use of local money.
Citizen and Customer Orientation
In order to facilitate access to the local services offered Farum has set up a town
hall reception point in the entrance area of the newly built town hall where about
60 per cent of the citizens’ concerns can be handled. More complex matters, e.g.
old-age pensions, are handled in rooms at the back of the building which are
clearly marked and hence can easily be found.
In recent years Farum has created facilities for different client groups that can be
considered exemplary.
The »family house« was set up to avoid the high cost of bringing up children in an
institution and at the same time solve educational problems in a more familyfriendly
way. The underlying philosophy is that usually the parents’ behavior is
the cause of their children’s committal to an institution. This is why difficult
children and their parents are given daily care in this facility for about six months
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