Local services
István Puskás presented the details of the city’s 2025 budget draft for his Deputy Mayor’s area
The 2025 budget is a budget of security, development and prosperity for Debrecen, which is fully in line with the Debrecen2030 urban development strategy adopted by the city assembly and the government in 2020, as it was in previous years.
The 2025 draft budget of individual cultural institutions and non-profit organisations in Debrecen was presented by Deputy Mayor István Puskás at the DEMKI Youth House on the 19th of February, 2025.
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 improving the quality of life. The planned investments and developments shape the future not only of Debrecen, but also of the entire region. The full document will be presented to the Debrecen General Assembly on the 27th of February, 2025.
The 2025 budget pays special attention to transport development, infrastructure development, institutional development, and economic development. In addition, it provides significant amounts for green space developments, residential programmes, cultural developments, and healthcare, thus ensuring the well-being and safety of the city’s citizens. The budget’s catchwords also designate the main strategic directions along which the proposal was put together: transport and urban water utility development; environmental protection and sustainability; care policy, and support for young people and families.
Debrecen has been one of the most important centres of Hungarian culture for centuries. We will cherish and build on this tradition this year and in the future.
István Puskás emphasised that the most important goal of cultural life this year is also to build communities. This is served by both the operation of municipal institutions and companies, as well as other forms of support and activities planned by the municipality. The 2025 budget draft includes the following cultural developments.
CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS:
- Establishment of a cultural centre for popular music
- Renovation of MODEM (ROHU)
- Development of B24 Gallery
- Villa renovation on Medgyessy Promenade (TOP+)
- New library unit in Tócóskert
BUDGET OF CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS:
(Municipal support, which also includes the amount of state support.)
- Csokonai National Theater: HUF 2.3 billion
- Déri Museum: HUF 720 million
- Méliusz Juhász Péter Library: HUF 864 million
- Vojtina Puppet Theater: HUF 454 million
- Debrecen Cultural Centre and Youth House: HUF 587
- Kodály Philharmonic Debrecen: HUF 1.5 billion
- Agóra Public Nonprofit Ltd. HUF 268
- Főnix Event Organiser Public Nonprofit Ltd.: HUF 1.5 billion
- MODEM Modern and Contemporary Art Center Nonprofit Ltd.: HUF 494 million
- Nagyerdei Cultural Park Nonprofit Ltd.: HUF 527 million
BUDGET EXPENDITURE:
- Cultural, civil and youth fund: HUF 31.3 million
- Cultural and public education tasks: HUF 300.5
OF THIS:
- Popular music and youth programmes: HUF 15.1 million
- City-level events, cultural and community programmes, district events: HUF 72.7 million
- Support for foundations: HUF 61.6 million
- Support for churches: HUF 20 million
SUPPORT FOR POPULAR MUSIC CULTURE:
István Puskás emphasised that Debrecen orchestras can also apply for support for making audio and video recordings this year, another secondary school will take over “Music Box” (in Hungarian Zenedoboz) this year, the Debrecen Art Lab program (DEAL) will continue, and thanks to the cooperation of Rocksuli, the Kodály Philharmonic and DEMKI, an information point will be opened (training courses and workshops will also be held in “BeugRoom” community space.) According to the plans, HUF 9 million are available for all this.
SUPPORT FOR COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITIES:
“Living and coherent communities are based on cooperation, which is why our goal is to encourage cooperation. Our goal is for as many Debrecen residents to be able to actively join the services provided by culture and for the opportunities to reach as many Debrecen residents as possible,” he emphasised.
HUF 53.2 million is planned to be available to support the following communities.
- Book Friends Network
- Made in Debrecen festival
- Art Week
- Creative Communities of Batthyány Street
SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY, CIVIL LIFE AND CHURCHES
The following organisations can manage a total of HUF 76 million:
- Debrecen Summer University
- University of Debrecen
- Debrecen German Cultural Forum
- Más-Mozaik Sociocultural Association
- University of Debrecen Professors’ Club
- Debrecen Folk Ensemble Dr. András Béres Folk Dance Association
- Endorfin Association
- Alföld Foundation
- Őrváros Public Foundation
- Public Foundation for Talented Youth in Debrecen
- Public Foundation for the Hajdú Dance Ensemble
- Hungarian Reformed Charity Service Public Foundation
- Pro Minoritate Foundation
- Öt Tálentum Public Foundation
- Magda Szabó and Tibor Szobotka Memorial Foundation
- Reformed Small Church Foundation
- Foundation for Children with Leukemia
The Cultural, Civil and Youth Fund can manage HUF 31.31 million, in 2024 we supported 77 organisations, and the amount of support provided to churches is HUF 20 million.
The number of employees of cultural institutions in 2025 is 545 people (excluding companies), who can expect an average wage increase of 4.1% this year.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
