Debrecen4U
February 24, 2026
Construction of Debrecen’s City Management Centre Begins This Year
As previously reported, László Papp has submitted the draft of Debrecen’s 2026 budget to the City Assembly. The Mayor presented the main figures and objectives of the draft budget last Tuesday. As is customary each year, following the Mayor’s presentation, the relevant deputy mayors outline the specific sections of the budget relating to their respective areas. First, Deputy Mayor Diána Széles, responsible for social care policy, civil relations, youth policy, healthcare and tourism, gave a briefing, followed by Deputy Mayor István Puskás, responsible for cultural affairs, who presented the cultural section of the budget.
On February 23, Ákos Balázs, Deputy Mayor responsible for city operations and environmental protection, presented the details concerning his portfolio.
As he explained, tree planting and the establishment of protective woodland belts will continue in Debrecen this year. A total of HUF 88 million is allocated in the budget for urban tree planting.
The Deputy Mayor highlighted the role of the Green Codex, which also sets the direction for urban development. It was stated at the press conference that the main message of the current cycle is the unity of security, development and prosperity. “This cycle’s key message is the unity of security, development and prosperity, and this can be identified throughout the lines of the budget. The Green Codex guarantees security, its measures ensure development, and through all this we aim to achieve the prosperity of the people of Debrecen,” Ákos Balázs emphasised.
In the 2026 budget, spending on city operations and green spaces will increase. The city is planning with a total balance sheet exceeding HUF 300 billion, without taking on loans. One of the main elements of the developments is the first phase of establishing the City Management Centre, which is intended to support more efficient traffic organisation. To achieve this, a new traffic model must first be created. “We need to develop a new traffic model, which must incorporate the new data, since the sensors and cameras we install will continuously provide us with data. On this basis, we will be able to develop new traffic light programmes, which will then be installed in the computers and from which we expect a more dynamic flow of traffic in the city,” Ákos Balázs explained.
HUF 1.394 billion is earmarked for the first phase of the City Management Centre. The centre will be housed in the Old City Hall. In the initial phase, the development will affect more than 40 junctions.
In the budget, expenditure on city operations will rise to HUF 8.9 billion and spending on green spaces to HUF 5.9 billion.
HUF 530 million is available for operating the Environmental Monitoring System. In addition, playground and sports pitch developments will begin at 30 locations, with funding of approximately HUF 350 million.
Within the framework of CIVAQUA+, the following will be implemented, among other projects:
• the Tócó Valley Eco Park,
• the Meggyes blue-green corridor,
• riverbed widening and the creation of new water surfaces in various districts of the city.
Within the framework of the “Green Community” programme:
• playgrounds, outdoor gyms and sports pitch developments will take place at 30 locations from HUF 350 million,
• HUF 95 million will be allocated to the “Debrecen Is Our Garden” programme (flower distribution and floral points),
• HUF 51 million to the creation of community gardens,
• HUF 13 million to the development of dog exercise areas,
• HUF 25 million to the residential rainwater barrel scheme.
The development of road infrastructure is also a priority area:
• HUF 2.37 billion will be allocated to large-scale resurfacing,
• HUF 2.1 billion to new road construction,
• HUF 180 million to grading and road stabilisation,
• HUF 340 million to public lighting improvements,
• HUF 130 million to pavement and stairway renovations,
• HUF 45 million to the installation of speed cameras and the enhancement of road safety.
Source and photo credit: dehir.hu
