Residents of Shchuchinsk suspected that the main New Year's installation with the numbers "2026" was a dubious reworking of last year's decorations. The story quickly spread across social media, and while locals shared their theories, the editorial team at FBRK decided to find out exactly how much the city actually spent on festive decorations this year.
The attention of residents of Shchuchinsk, Burabay District, Akmola Region, was particularly drawn to the last digit of the display. Many thought it looked suspiciously like a reworked '5'. 
Users immediately began putting forward theories, the most popular of which was simple: they took last year's structure and tweaked it slightly. Some reacted with humour, others with approval, noting that the reuse of decorations could be a sensible move to save the budget. 
When a photo of last year's "2025" installation appeared in the comments, there were even fewer doubts left - the structures really did look very similar.
Colleagues from Tengri Life contacted the akimat's press service, and they confirmed residents' suspicions. It turned out the New Year figure was originally made modular, meaning individual elements could be changed without creating the structure from scratch. In preparation for 2026, the digit '5' was simply replaced with '6' using restoration work.
The akimat explained that creating a completely new figure every year is neither necessary nor economical. If the structure is in working order, it's enough to update certain parts. This approach allows them to reduce costs and shorten preparation times. Meanwhile, the department assured that the decision did not affect the quality or appearance of the display, and all work was carried out under contract.
The FBRK editorial team decided to check how much the New Year decorations for Shchuchinsk cost in the outgoing year 2025.
In December, the akimat signed three relevant contracts totalling nearly 75 million tenge. The largest one was with NEW LEVEL LLP for 44.4 million tenge via an open tender. Formally, this is for work to ensure conditions for mass gatherings of people. The technical specification for this contract wasn't available on the public procurement portal, but the company's website states it deals with urban decoration.
The second contract was with Individual Entrepreneur Bostanbayev for 15 million tenge from a single source. This was the company responsible for the restoration and installation of New Year elements, including those very digits "2026".
Furthermore, the technical specification details the creation of a three-metre composition called "Horse Statue with Arch" featuring light-up numbers one and a half metres high. But interestingly, there is a separate section titled "repair and restoration of last year's light figures". So, the practice of updating old structures was planned from the outset and included replacing damaged fairy lights, restoring the frame, and renewing the coating.
Besides the numbers, the contract stipulated the installation of light-up balls shaped like Christmas tree ornaments, a two-metre-high fountain, gift boxes in three sizes, figures of "Phoenix Lights", "Northern Lights", flamingos, and a snowman. Additionally, 150 trees and shrubs were to be decorated with fairy lights, and 200 metres of light arches were to be strung.
Incidentally, this wasn't the first time the akimat had worked with this contractor. The authorities had previously signed a similar agreement for the repair of networks and equipment.
The third contract for 15.5 million tenge was signed with the company "Grad ART" for improving aesthetic appearance. This included the restoration of a city monument, which required major repairs due to metal corrosion and damaged seams on its pedestal.
This same contract also included the installation of light panels and structures on street lighting poles, which is partly also New Year decoration.
In total, for Shchuchinsk's New Year décor, even excluding the last contract, approximately 60 million tenge was spent. Meanwhile, the technical requirements stipulate that all materials and equipment must be new – except, perhaps, for the numbers themselves.
So, it turns out the modular '6' is not improvisation at all, but a planned budget saving. However, judging by the reaction on social media, many were pleased with the festive decorations, and that is perhaps the main result.