Opinion: Abolishing kindergarten fees in Kohtla-Järve is irresponsible

Columnist Henri Kaselo argues that eliminating kindergarten fees in Kohtla-Järve is fiscally irresponsible at a time when all public services are in need of additional funding. He compares the move to the behaviour of a Sun King — governing without regard for consequences.

In a sharply worded opinion piece, Henri Kaselo argues that the decision by Kohtla-Järve city authorities to abolish kindergarten fees is a reckless political gesture at precisely the wrong moment. With virtually every public sector — from healthcare to infrastructure — crying out for additional resources, choosing to eliminate a revenue stream rather than protect it sends entirely the wrong message.

Kaselo draws on the historical metaphor of the Sun King to describe a style of governance that prioritises spectacle and short-term popularity over long-term fiscal sustainability. The move, he contends, may win applause from young families in the short run, but leaves the municipality worse off when the bills come due.

The timing is particularly pointed. Estonian local governments have been under mounting budgetary pressure, and Ida-Virumaa towns such as Kohtla-Järve face structural challenges that make such revenue losses especially painful. Kaselo insists that responsible leadership demands making hard choices — not generous-sounding ones that shift the burden elsewhere.

While advocates of free early-childhood education argue that removing financial barriers improves access and supports families, Kaselo's column pushes back firmly: when public coffers are strained, blanket fee abolition is a luxury that smaller municipalities simply cannot afford. He calls instead for targeted support to those genuinely in need, rather than across-the-board giveaways.