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Á-listinn in Rangárþing ytra 2026

Policy Platform 2026–2030

A citizens’ list for municipal affairs

Let’s continue building our community — Vote FOR Á

We will

• Introduce free meals in preschools
• Allocate funding each year to community projects chosen by residents
• Raise the age limit for the Leisure Grant to 18 years
• Continue development at Laugaland and in Hella
• Open a leisure centre for all ages
• Develop playgrounds and outdoor recreation areas
• Review municipal fees and tariffs
• Bring vacant plots into use
• Provide clear information and good service to all residents
• Improve road and traffic safety
• Continue pressing for a discount grocery store
• Build an athletics track in 2027

Policy Priorities of Á-listinn 2026–2030

Administration and Finance

Trust, transparency and efficient service

We emphasise:

• Maintaining clear and consistent information flow to residents
• Sound and responsible financial management, with moderate municipal fees
• Open and transparent municipal accounts
• Good access to meeting documents and information
• A clear and accessible municipal website
• Targeted and transparent processing of cases and applications
• Good access to elected representatives and the municipal manager
• Regular office hours for elected representatives
• A stronger role for the Council of Older Persons, the Youth Council and the Multicultural Council
• Active resident democracy through regular surveys and public meetings
• Giving residents the opportunity to have a direct influence on, and choose, projects through democratic voting, with funding allocated by the municipal council and projects brought to completion

Employment and Culture

More opportunities and a vibrant community

We emphasise:

• Measures to attract diverse jobs and new activity to the area
• Development of facilities for remote work and new employment opportunities
• Creating better conditions for business development and innovation
• Promoting the municipality as an attractive place to live
• Preparing an employment strategy for Rangárþing ytra in 2026
• Strong cooperation with tourism operators to make the municipality a desirable destination
• Maintaining vibrant cultural and social activities in the municipality
• Supporting events and community projects that strengthen residents’ sense of belonging
• Celebrating Hella’s 100th anniversary in 2027 in a fitting manner
• Highlighting Þykkvibær, the oldest rural village in Iceland
• Increasing the visibility of historical sites and cultural heritage, such as Oddi á Rangárvöllum
• Supporting creative industries, the arts and entrepreneurship in the municipality

Education and Children’s Well-being

Strong schools and equal opportunities

We emphasise:

• Introducing free meals in preschools
• Providing future facilities for after-school care and full-day programmes for the youngest pupils
• Ensuring that every student receives services and teaching suited to their needs, including psychological services and Icelandic language support for students with another mother tongue
• Strong special education and support in schools
• Strengthening innovation, arts education and vocational learning
• Healthy and nutritious food in schools
• Making prevention and health promotion part of all organised activities for children and young people
• More varied and engaging projects for the municipal summer work programme
• Strengthening and developing summer courses and leisure activities for children
• Improving facilities for distance learning at upper-secondary and university level, supporting residents who wish to pursue education without having to move away
• Implementing the legislation on children’s prosperity

Sports and Youth Affairs

A health-promoting community for everyone

We emphasise:

• Developing playgrounds, play areas and facilities for daily physical activity for all age groups
• Raising the age limit for the Leisure Grant from 6–16 years to 6–18 years
• Developing and maintaining facilities, including the swimming pools at Laugaland and Hella and the sports hall in Þykkvibær
• A time-bound implementation plan for the development of the sports and outdoor recreation area in Hella, including:
  • Final completion and surrounding facilities for the football pitch in 2026
  • Construction of an athletics track to be opened in 2027
  • Beginning preparations for a multi-purpose sports hall
• A leisure centre with:
  • Facilities for organised social activities for children and adults, as well as the activities of voluntary organisations
  • A place where children can stay between school and organised sports or leisure activities, regardless of where they live
  • Facilities for the Hellirinn youth centre in the new leisure centre
  • A stronger youth centre, with longer opening hours, an organised programme and youth participation in planning
• Further developing ideas for transport to leisure activities within the municipality

Welfare and Quality of Life

A good community for all residents

We emphasise:

• Ensuring that children’s and family issues are always a priority when allocating municipal funds
• Continuing determined efforts to establish a discount grocery store in the municipality
• Enabling residents to live at home for as long as possible with appropriate services
• Strengthening municipal services for older residents
• Improved accessibility at sports facilities and municipal institutions
• Welcoming new residents and supporting them in becoming active participants in the community
• A positive working environment and good working conditions for staff
• Developing a quality-of-life community for residents aged 60+, where housing and services are connected
• Developing and strengthening Lundur nursing and residential care home
• Safeguarding local healthcare services, including mental health services and home nursing outside regular working hours

Planning and Development

Organised development and a clear vision for the future

We emphasise:

• Sufficient and diverse supply of plots for residential and commercial buildings
• Diverse housing options and continued support for first-time buyers
• Reviewing road construction charges
• Clear and transparent procedures, including for plot allocation and fees
• Clear rules and improved information flow on available plots and plot allocations
• Planning and preparing development in key areas of the municipality
• Developing and maintaining municipal properties at Laugaland and in Hella
• Completing work on the town-centre plan
• Continued development of neighbourhood planning for the old village area of Hella
• Developing riding routes and facilities connected to equestrian activities

Transport and Roads

Safer and better transport — stronger infrastructure

We emphasise:

• Developing pedestrian crossings and other road safety measures
• Accessibility for everyone, including through the development of pavements and walking paths
• Pressing for the development and maintenance of district and connecting roads
• Development and renewal of streets in built-up areas
• Better coordination of snow clearing between the municipality and the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration
• Continued construction of the walking and cycling path between Hella and Hvolsvöllur
• Development of bridle paths and preservation of old travel routes
• Targeted work to improve traffic safety near schools, sports areas and busy locations
• Improved signage, lighting and accessibility along walking, cycling and riding routes throughout the municipality

Environment and Nature

Using and protecting nature wisely

We emphasise:

• Planning and development work in cooperation with Skógræktarfélag Rangæinga, including in Aldamótaskógur
• Setting measurable goals to reduce waste and increase the municipality’s recycling rate
• Green spaces in built-up areas
• Developing a comprehensive resource policy that will become a binding part of the municipal plan
• Managing pressure from tourism through targeted development of paths, signage and access, thereby protecting popular areas from damage
• Defining and specifically protecting vulnerable natural areas within the municipality through the municipal plan
• Improving the appearance of entrances to built-up areas through targeted improvements to green spaces
• Increasing the number of benches and litter bins along walking and outdoor recreation areas
• Simplifying and improving the waste sorting system through better access and clearer information for residents and businesses
• Strengthening education and encouraging residents to participate in joint community initiatives and clean-up days

We promised — we delivered

Examples include:

• Sound and responsible financial management
• Opening the municipality’s accounts
• Introducing a Leisure Grant for children and young people
• Exercising moderation in municipal fees and reducing residential property tax
• Pressing Landsvirkjun to establish a permanent workplace in the municipality
• Introducing a cultural grant
• Opening a car wash area
• Preparing an environmental policy
• Supporting the development of a quality-of-life community for older residents
• Improving access to information on building and construction permits by increasing meetings from one to two per month

Our work speaks for itself

Examples include:

• Keeping the debt ratio stable despite major investment and construction
• Installing an artificial turf football pitch in Hella
• Providing support for first-time homebuyers
• Introducing recognition for Citizen of the Year
• Contributing to the development of the motocross track
• Pressing Landsvirkjun to pave a 13 km section at the upper end of Landvegur
• Undertaking long-overdue maintenance at Laugaland
• Keeping construction work on the school building within cost estimates

Residents’ Idea Portal

Á-listinn has invited residents to submit ideas for the future through its residents’ idea portal. The proposals are all interesting and worthy of further consideration. Most of them concern children, schools, sports and leisure activities, while several also address traffic safety, culture and social activities. All proposals will remain open and will help shape the work of Á-listinn. The idea portal will remain open to receive further suggestions.

Examples of proposals received:

• Strengthen support services in schools
• Improve summer options for children
• Safer walking and cycling routes
• A multi-purpose cultural centre
• Improved waste sorting and composting
• Shelter at the new artificial turf pitch
• Heating beneath the artificial turf pitch
• Increase participation in the health-promoting community initiative
• Press for a discount grocery store
• More litter bins in open areas
• More green spaces for outdoor recreation
• Facilities for after-school care

Sound Operations During the Electoral Term

A positive operating result has enabled the municipality to take on less debt. Á-listinn has demonstrated responsible and sound financial management and seeks a mandate from the residents of Rangárþing ytra to continue on that path.

Operating result for Parts A and B, 2023–2025:

• 2023: ISK 230.3 million
• 2024: ISK 376.2 million
• 2025: ISK 458.9 million

The strong operating results of recent years reflect responsible financial management and create room for continued development.

Debt Ratio in Balance

Parts A and B, 2021–2025:

• 2021: 93.5%
• 2022: 76.9%
• 2023: 81.6%
• 2024: 81.4%
• 2025: 88.6%

What is the debt ratio? The debt ratio shows the municipality’s debts and obligations as a proportion of its regular income. It is an important measure of the municipality’s financial position and its capacity to maintain services and carry out development projects.

The debt ratio has remained stable despite the largest period of investment and construction in the municipality’s history. We seek a mandate from voters in Rangárþing ytra to continue managing the municipality’s finances responsibly.