Budgetary targets for segregation prevention
For the first time, City-wide budget targets for preventing segregation were prepared for the 2025 budget with a broad range of specialists across divisions. Budgetary targets need to be backed up by a long-term plan and cooperation across divisions.
The goal of the assessment
The main question of the assessment was whether the 2025 budget targets for preventing segregation can prevent or mitigate the consequences of segregation. This was done by examining whether the budget targets are set comprehensively in the different areas of preventing and mitigating segregation, and whether they are sufficiently long-term in nature. It was also assessed whether the indicators set for the targets reflect the objective itself and whether the budget targets promote cooperation between different divisions to prevent segregation. Preventing segregation has been a long-standing goal of the City. Segregation is reflected in the accumulation of affluence and deprivation in segregated neighbourhoods.
Conclusions
The 2025 budget targets for preventing segregation will only partially prevent segregation or mitigate its effects. The targets are comprehensive and will be developed in a long-term direction, and discussions across divisions have been launched. However, budget targets cannot prevent segregation or mitigate its consequences if they are measured in terms of individual outputs without a long-term plan and cooperation across divisions. An understanding of the concept of segregation and the objectives of preventing segregation is also needed. Furthermore, it will take time to implement the measures and see the impact. The support of the City Executive Office to the divisions is important in translating the targets into concrete measures and indicators.
Recommendations of the Audit Committee
The City Executive Office and City divisions must
- define measures that concretise the objectives of preventing segregation and mitigating its consequences, which will guide the setting of budget indicators.
- ensure that budget indicators for City-wide objectives are created in cooperation or to be shared with the relevant divisions, if this is necessary to achieve the objective.
The City Executive Office must
- continue its coordination work to define and increase understanding of the objectives for segregation prevention, supporting the City’s divisions in translating the objectives and targets into concrete measures and indicators.