The city council voted on the service network, family houses and the stable economy program

1.6.2026 News Decision making Zoning Town government Town council Schools Service network Program for a stable economy Early childhood education

Pohjolanrinne School photographed from the school yard — Pohjolanrinne Middle School. Photo: Jenniina Nummela

The Riihimäki City Board discussed several issues of importance to the city's future at its meeting on Monday, June 1, 2026. The board's agenda included, among other things, additional appropriations for the swimming pool renovation project, a stable economy program, next year's budget framework, and a change to the local plan for the Travel Center.

In addition to these, the city council also had to consider the early childhood education and basic education service network and the family house needs assessment. The council tabled both issues at its previous meeting. In political decision-making, tabling means temporarily suspending the consideration of an issue and postponing it to the next meeting.

No changes are proposed to the primary school network.

The City Government proposes to the City Council that no changes be made to the primary school network until the situation of TOI classes is confirmed. TOI teaching, or teaching organized by area of operation, refers to teaching that requires special support. It is offered to students who have limitations caused by learning ability, illness or functional ability. The intention is that TOI teaching will be transferred to the Uramo school and kindergarten in the future. The relevant plan has been appealed.

In addition, the government proposes the following regarding the early childhood education and basic education service network:

Sixth grade students will continue their studies in primary schools, provided the schools' space capacity allows it. Currently, sixth grade students in Riihimäki are transferring from primary schools to middle schools.
The city will abandon Pohjolanrinne Middle School in the 2031–2032 academic year at the earliest.
The city is giving up two early childhood education units, namely the main building of the Junailijankatu daycare center (Junailijankatu 14) and the Saturnus daycare center (Saturnuksenkatu 2) located in the city center. The Saturnus daycare center operates as part of the Peltosaari daycare center. The facilities will be replaced with a new daycare center building located in Peltosaari. Construction will begin as soon as possible.
The competent authority decides to close a daycare center or school no later than two years in advance.
The service network will be reviewed every council term in the future. The review will utilize the current survey and assess the operating environment and population structure.

The proposed resolution that will go to the council was created after three votes.

The family house is progressing to further planning.

The City Council approved the needs assessment for the family house after two votes. At the same time, the Council tasked the technical department with starting the project planning for the house. The further planning will examine options in which the new building to be located in Peltosaari would include a family house and services for youth and seniors, with or without a daycare center. Which of the options is planned depends on the City Council's decision regarding the service network.

The Coalition Party's Mikael Leinonen, Eija Aittola and Tero Nuora submitted a dissenting opinion on the decision.

The budget investment plan estimates the project's initial cost at approximately 6–7 million euros. The costs will be specified during the project planning phase. In the 10-year investment plan of the City of Riihimäki, the implementation of the family house as a new building is targeted for 2029–2030. In addition, money has been reserved for the design for 2027.

Tax increase of 0,3–0,5 percentage points

The City Council decided that the city's second stable economy program aims to achieve adjustments of approximately ten million euros in the program period 2027–2029. The government wants to stabilize the economy through measures that affect the operating economy and by increasing taxes by 0,3–0,5 percentage points in 2027. According to the decision, the measures and tax increases will be decided in connection with the budget.

The government also stated that the investment planning aims to achieve annual net investments of 15 million euros over a five-year period. However, the planning must take into account the investments necessary for the development of the city.

Mayor Jouni Eho's proposed decision was stricter, including, among other things, operating budget savings of 5,8 million and a tax increase of 0,3 percentage points.

The government's decision came after two votes. The program for a stable economy will be submitted to the city council for information.

The principles for preparing next year's budget and the 2027–2029 financial plan, as well as the sector-specific budget framework, were returned to preparation by the city government.

More money for the swimming pool, approval for the campus plan

In addition to the service network, the family house needs assessment, and the stable economy program, the government discussed and made the following decisions, among others:

The government proposes to the council that the council grant 1,7 million euros in funding for the renovation of the swimming pool and approve the project's new total budget of 18,8 million euros.
The government approved the change in the local plan for the Travel Center (Eteläinen Asemakatu 2), will display it and request the necessary statements. The change will enable the relocation and development of the Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) campus in the city center.