Household payments for kindergarten, 15 January 2001, January

On average families with total gross income of NOK 500 000 and 375 000 have monthly payments NOK 3 072 and 2 983 respectively, for children aged three years or more. Oslo has the highest fees on both income levels. With gross income of 500 000 the county of Sogn og Fjordane has the lowest fees, while Finnmark has the lowest with gross income of 375 000.

With a total gross income of NOK 250 000 the monthly payments vary between NOK 2 228 and

3 106. The average payment is NOK 2 722.

The lowest fees paid by households with a total income of NOK 100 000 are found in the county of Akershus with monthly payment on average of NOK 780. The highest fees are found in Møre og Romsdal with NOK 3 035. Many of the municipalities in the survey do, however, offer some kind of economic support to low income families.

The payment system

64 of the 109 municipalities in the survey have the same payments regardless of total gross income, while the remaining municipalities use fees that vary according to the total gross income.

All municipalities have price reductions for the second child and half of the municipalities offer 50 per cent off. In addition, many of the municipalities offer free places for low-income families.

24 municipalities in the survey have higher fees for children younger than three years, fewer municipalities than recorded in January 2000. 94 per cent of the municipalities in the survey have the annual payment divided into 11 a year.