Local services
The 2025 budget is for Debrecen’s security, development, and prosperity. As in previous years, it is entirely in line with the Debrecen2030 urban development strategy adopted by the city assembly and the government in 2020.
After the challenges of the past years, 2025 will be a year of stability and sustainable growth. The budget reflects the city’s commitment to economic development, environmental protection, the development of educational institutions, and the quality of life.
The planned investments and developments shape the future not only of Debrecen but also of the entire region.
Lajos Barcsa presented the draft budget for security, development, and prosperity related to the deputy mayor’s area on the 17th of February 17, 2025. The document will be presented to the Debrecen General Assembly on the 27th of February 2025.
The 2025 budget focuses on transport, infrastructure, institutional, and economic development. In addition, it provides significant amounts for green space development, residential programmes, cultural development, and healthcare, thus ensuring the well-being and safety of the city’s citizens. The budget also set out the main strategic orientations under which the proposal has been put together: transport and urban water development, environment and sustainability, care policy, and support for young people and families.
Lajos Barcsa pointed out that the press conference presenting the budgetary aspects was held in a symbolic place, at the Debrecen Waterworks’ wastewater treatment plant. They had reached a milestone. For decades, the city has not seen a water utility development in drinking water supply and wastewater disposal like the one starting this year.
Local tax revenues, with a total planned amount of HUF 41.5 billion this year, are almost four times higher than in 2014. This shows an increasing trend, mainly in local business and construction tax revenues.
The city will spend half its budget, nearly HUF 290 billion, on operating costs and the other half on investments.
DKV PLC’s municipal compensation claim, which is not covered by revenue, is expected to total HUF 9.8 billion in 2025. HUF 6.5 billion has already been planned for this purpose in the municipal budget 2025. The company is expected to receive this by May.
The wages of kindergarten employees with teacher qualifications will increase by between 13.8 and more than 21 percent compared to last year, which means an average increase of 17-18 percent, while kindergarten employees without teacher qualifications can expect a wage increase of 3.5-9 percent.
Főnix Housing Programme
Among the expenditures financed from tax revenues, Lajos Barcsa particularly highlighted the Főnix Housing Programme, which provides young Debrecen workers under the age of 35 with the opportunity to use new, high-quality, yet environmentally friendly rental apartments with low maintenance costs, with a total rent subsidy of two-thirds from employers and the local government, for which the city is spending HUF 200 million this year. The application for this programme for landlords was announced on the 27th of January, 2025, and the second round of applications for employers is expected to start at the end of April. The joint evaluation of the two application rounds will occur in July-August, and the lease contracts will be concluded in the third quarter of 2025. This support programme runs in parallel with the rent subsidy announced by the state, which creates favourable opportunities for young people.
TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT
The Deputy Mayor summarised that the transport development will be started with its resources, state support or, hopefully, TOP+ support. Road developments will not be concentrated in a specific part of the city or only on industrial parks but in different parts of the city. For example, the city plans to build a new road in the eastern part and carry out reconstruction work in certain areas. Lajos Barcsa also specifically mentioned the importance of converting Kishegyesi Road to 2×2 lanes with a separate level junction and creating a separate level junction on Vértesi Road.
The budget directly plans HUF 14.8 billion for transport development, but considering other similar projects (for example, garden district developments), the city will spend HUF 28.4 billion on transport development.
The budget plans to spend HUF 14.8 billion directly on transport development, but considering other similar projects (such as garden developments), the city will spend HUF 28.4 billion on transport development.
The following investments are being implemented from the municipality’s own resources and state support:
- Construction of the Majorsági collector road (completion of Mandolás Street)
- Renovation of Vértesi Road
- Completion of the first phase of the renovation of Határ Road
- Scheduled renovation of Sárga dülő
- Large-area asphalting
- Residential road construction
- Sidewalk and stair renovation program
- Installation of speedometers
In the spirit of transport development, the city is starting the preparation of the following investments, and in addition to the developments already under planning, is beginning new planning processes:
- Infrastructure development of the Eastern part of the city
- Eastern transport corridor
- 2×2 lane conversion of Kishegyesi Road, with a separate level junction
- Creation of a separate level junction on Vértesi Road
The following state investments are being implemented:
- Development of the junction of Main Road 33 – Szabó Lőrinc Street – Csigekert Street
- Connection of Main Road 33 and Main Road 354, with a separate level junction on Main Road 354
- Expansion of Main Road 471 to 2×2 lanes between sections 1+000 – 2+850 km
- Development of the Szoboszlói Street – Külsővásártér junction
- Development of the junction of Main Road 48 – Budai Nagy Antal Street – Hétvezér Street
The following state investments are being prepared:
- Eastern Bypass
- Debrecen-Józsa Northern relief road (between M35 motorway and Main Road 35)
- Upgrading of the section of Main Road 35 Debrecen-Józsa – Main Road 354 to 2×2 lanes
- 2×2 lane widening of Main Road 4 between Hajdúszoboszló and Debrecen
- 4-lane widening of the section between Debrecen and Nyíregyháza of Main Road 4
- Preparation of the development of Kassai Road
- Development of the bridge over the railway on Vágóhíd Street and the related road network
- Capacity expansion of the Homokkert overpass and related road network
- Development of the Füredi Road – Böszörményi Road junction
- Preparation of the development of the Nyíl Street section of Main Road 33
- Development of Main Road 481
- 4-lane widening of Main Road 47 (between kilometre sections 5+280 – 7+630)
- Development of the interchange in the 4+440 kilometre section of Main Road 47
Transport investments planned under the Regional and Settlement Development Operational Programme Plus (TOP+):
- Development of a cycle path to the Debrecen University Industrial Park
- Construction of the Móricz Zsigmond Street cycle path
- Traffic management of the Western part of Debrecen, Phase II.
- Lahner Street Road Development
- Létai Street Road Development
- Renovation of Kishegyesi Street, Phase II. and creation of a new junction for accessibility to the new entrance to the Határ Road Industrial Park
- Cycling connection of Lake Vekeri and Main Road 47
- Creating the Kismacs-Látókép bicycle path connection
- Eastern transport corridor, Phase I
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Debrecen will be able to spend nearly HUF 15 billion on institutional developments, HUF 573 million on cultural developments, HUF 1.66 billion on the Caring Debrecen program, HUF 3.8 billion on green space, leisure and sports developments, and HUF 13.1 billion on garden district development, which has been a key project of the municipality for many years.
Regarding institutional development, the Deputy Mayor is very confident in the success of the TOP+ applications, which could continue the renovation of kindergartens, more than half of which the city has already modernised in recent years. The same TOP+ hopes are expressed regarding the refurbishment of medical clinics.
Institutional investments planned within the framework of the Regional and Settlement Development Operational Programme Plus (TOP+):
- Energy modernisation of the building of Margit Square Kindergarten
- Energy modernisation of the building of Simonyi Road Kindergarten
- Energy development of Ifjúság Street Kindergarten
- Energy development of Tócóskerti Kindergarten
- Energy development of DMJV EBI Angyalföld Kindergarten
- Energy development of Manófalva Kindergarten
- Energy development of Debrecen Thermal Bath
- Development of Varga Street Kindergarten, Levendula Kindergarten
- Development of Áchim András Nursery
- Development of Áchim András Kindergarten
- Development of Görgey Street Kindergarten
- Complex renovation of Thaly Kálmán Street Kindergarten
- Development of Angyalkert Kindergarten
- Construction of the gymnasium of Százszorszép Kindergarten
- Complex renovation of Szoboszlói Street Kindergarten
- Complex renovation of Kemény Zsigmond Street Kindergarten
- Renovation of Kismacs Community Centre
- Development of Kincseshegy Street medical clinic
- Development of the Csapó Street site of Municipal Social Services
- Development of the Pósa Street site of Municipal Social Services
- Renovation of the medical clinic at 54 Monostorpályi Street
- Renovation of the medical office at 34 Pandúr Street
- Renovation of the medical clinic complex at 1 Angyalföld Square
- Renovation of the medical clinic at 6 Alsójózsai Street
- Renovation of the medical clinic at 19 Harkály Street
- Renovation of the medical clinic at 19 Földi János Street
- Csapókerti Elementary School
SPORTS EXPENDITURE
Debrecen will spend a total of HUF 1.6 billion on sports expenses. This will not primarily go towards supporting competitive sports but rather towards the operation and maintenance of extensive facilities (Debrecen Ice Arena, Debrecen Sports Swimming Pool, Főnix Arena) that are used by the citizens of Debrecen thanks to the Debrecen Sportcentrum Ltd., and maintaining the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative. In addition, the city will also provide funds for sports activities and the Békessy Béla sports scholarship.
The city will be able to spend:
- HUF 10 million on the organisation and support of key sports events,
- HUF 2.5 million on leisure sports,
- HUF 2.5 million on international and youth competitions,
- HUF 1.5 million on facility use support.
The city will be able to spend nearly HUF 8 million on supporting student sports competitions and will be able to support clubs such as:
- DVSC Boxing Ltd. with HUF 5 million,
- Debrecen Table Tennis Club with HUF 7.5 million,
- Eötvös DSE with HUF 2.4 million,
- SpeedWolf Debrecen, which organises the city’s slalom motorsports life and operates the Gázvezeték Street stadium with HUF 5 million,
- Flex HD gymnasts with HUF 0,5 million,
- Bocskai István International Boxing Memorial Competition with HUF 26 million.
Debrecen Asset Management Ltd.
Regarding Debrecen Asset Management Ltd., the Deputy Mayor said that last year’s planned pre-tax profit was HUF 2.1 billion, but according to the current calculation, this was doubled. This year’s plan includes a profit of HUF 3.7 billion.
Debreceni Asset Management Ltd. will spend more than HUF 6 billion on developments from its resources, which exceeds the planned amortisation for 2025 by 37 percent.
In addition to the city’s water utility developments on reconstruction works, Debrecen Waterworks Ltd. will also spend HUF 2 billion from its resources.
Lajos Barcsa emphasised that the city is preparing the tender for the Tócóvölgy housing project. In the coming period, they would like to announce the tender, within the framework of which they would like to sell the plots now owned by Debrecen Asset Management Ltd.
The municipality is issuing a tender for utilising the former National Public Help and Medical Officer Service (abbreviated as ÁNTSZ in Hungarian) headquarters on Dósa nádor Square, where a high-quality hotel could be established.
The former headquarters of Hajdú-Bihari Napló, also on Dósa nádor Square, was purchased by Cívis Ház PLC, and they are currently investigating how it could be used. According to the idea, shops could be on the ground floor, and a boutique hotel could be opened on the upper floor or on future floors.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The city’s total investment amount is HUF 147.8 billion, while it will spend HUF 97.9 billion on economic development. Of this, nearly HUF 60 billion will go to water utility development alone, which the city will carry out not only in direct connection with economic growth. Without the HUF 60 billion spent on water utility development, the municipality will spend about HUF 38 billion on classic economic growth this year.
Infrastructure developments scheduled in the Southern Economic Zone:
• Under construction (2024-2025):
1. Western boundary road + utilities, Phase I. (Southern section)
2. Long-distance water utility supplying the Southern Economic Zone
3. Internal water utility network supplying the Southern Economic Zone, Phase I.
4. Internal road network of the Southern Economic Zone, Phase I. – stormwater + western road, Phase II. – water utilities
5. Construction of the Southern Economic Zone’s gas network, Phase III.
• Planned for implementation in 2025
1. A1 sewage lifting station and the underlying network, Phase I.
2. 22 kV electrical network development (Northern circle)
3. Eastern and Southern boundary road and utility development
4. Western boundary road Phase II. (Northern section)
• Long-term developments (to be ordered after 2025):
1. Internal water utility network ensuring Southern Economic Zone’s supply, Phase III.
2. Public road network ensuring the Southern Economic Zone’s exploration + utilities
3. We would like to build a 4-hectare reservoir east of Road 47
The city has completed practically all utilities and network improvements in the Northwest Economic Zone, while the supplier industrial park is still in the process of completion. Utility upgrades related to the zone are still to come.
The planning of the Debrecen Logistics and Truck Terminal is well underway, and construction work on various utilities is expected to start this year.
The tender for the design of the Hungarian Natural History Museum, which will be built on the site of the old Loki field, was announced on the 16th of September 2024. The museum will use innovative solutions that are competitive in Eastern Europe and present scientific content in a forward-looking form. The announcement of the Collection Centre tender results is expected in the second half of 2025, after which design negotiations will start.
Water utility development
Nearly HUF 60 billion are available for water utility development.
In the framework of a comprehensive water utility development in 2025, Debrecen will, among other things:
- Build a technological wastewater treatment plant,
- Develop an existing wastewater treatment plant,
- Plan the development of the infrastructure of the Eastern part of the city,
- Develop a greywater system,
- Develop the sewage network of the manor area, the drinking water supply of the Southern part of the city,
- Start planning the development of the water tower and water treatment plants and the separation of the stormwater and sewage drainage network.
The preparation, planning and implementation of the following water utility investments will start in 2025:
- Implementation of the network development between the A1 lifting station and the wastewater treatment plant,
- Planning preparation of the scheduled developments of the existing municipal wastewater treatment plant,
- Planning and implementation of the creation of industrial wastewater treatment capacity,
- Development and design of the main wastewater collection system and the related network affecting the eastern part of the city,
- Development and design of the main drinking water backbone supplying the Eastern part of the city and the related network,
- Development, design and implementation of the grey water supply network,
- Development of drinking water network elements, preparation of design,
- Reconstruction of the Víztorony Street water tower, preparation of design,
- Development of the combined drainage sewer network, preparation of design,
- Development of other sewage network elements and the preparation of the design.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
