Gothenburg municipality has spent more than 25 million kronor to buy out 155 employees this year. The city has already exceeded the number of buyouts from the previous two years combined.
Daniel Bernmar, a Left Party politician now in government, previously criticized high buyout costs. His position changed after joining the ruling coalition. Buyouts increased during his two years in power.
Bernmar acknowledged the situation is not positive. He made these comments in a recent statement.
Employee buyouts occur when Swedish municipalities pay staff to leave their positions. These agreements often prevent legal disputes but cost taxpayers substantial money.
Gothenburg is Sweden's second-largest city with approximately 600,000 residents. The municipality employs thousands of workers across various departments.
This spending pattern contradicts previous political promises about fiscal responsibility. Municipal funds ultimately come from taxpayer money, making these expenditures particularly sensitive during economic uncertainty.