Salaspils Municipality to Implement 50% Co-financing for Student Meals

Strategic Insights -

Salaspils Municipality has decided to introduce a new policy to provide 50% municipal co-financing for meals for students in grades 5-12, starting from November 1, 2025. This decision was made after analyzing data on the provision of catering services and taking into account the increase in catering services and other municipal expenses for ensuring quality education. The municipality will cover 50% of the costs of catering for one meal per day for students whose declared place of residence is in the administrative territory of the Salaspils Municipality.

The new policy aims to reduce the financial burden on the municipality and allocate the saved funds to improve the quality of education and infrastructure in municipal educational institutions. The decision does not affect students in grades 1-4, as well as those from poor and low-income households, large families, students with disabilities, and students in all grade groups under the care and supervision of a guardian or adopter.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Salaspils Municipality Council made a decision to introduce 50% municipal co-financing for meals for students in grades 5-12, starting from November 1, 2025.
  • The municipality will save approximately €65,000 per year by covering only 50% of the costs of catering for meals not refused by parents.
  • The cost of one student's meal has increased by 3.4 times, from €270,000 to €920,000 per year, from 2020 to 2024.
  • None of the neighboring municipalities, such as Olaine, Ropazi, and Riga, cover 100% of the catering services for students from grades 5 to 12.
  • Municipal co-financing will remain for students in grades 1-4, as well as for students from poor and low-income households, large families, students with disabilities, and students in all grade groups under the care and supervision of a guardian or adopter.
  • The municipality will direct the saved funds to the development of municipal educational institutions and their infrastructure.

Statistics:

  • The cost of one student's meal increased by 3.4 times, from €270,000 to €920,000 per year, from 2020 to 2024.
  • The municipality will save approximately €65,000 per year by covering only 50% of the costs of catering for meals not refused by parents.
  • The new policy aims to allocate the saved funds to improve the quality of education and infrastructure in municipal educational institutions.

Sources:

  • Salaspils Municipality (Official Website)