Financial turn: Weisenheim am Berg approves budgets for 2025!

Financial turn: Weisenheim am Berg approves budgets for 2025!

The municipal finances are the focus of current discussions. In a meeting of the municipal council of the municipality of Weisenheim am Berg, it was announced that the municipal supervision of the district administration of Bad Dürkheim approved the budget's budget plans. Mayor Edmund Müller (BFW) informed the council members about the unanimous decision, which provides for a profit of almost 90,000 euros for 2023. A profit of around 239,000 euros is also forecast for 2026. The tax revenues in 2023 are estimated at around 2.5 million euros, while for 2024 is expected to be around 2.6 million euros.

An essential part of the budget plans is the increase in the rate of the lifting rate for property tax A, which has been increased from 345 to 500 percentage points. However, the lifting rates for property tax B and trade tax remain unchanged. These adjustments are in the context of the nationwide property tax reform, which was considered necessary by the 2018 Federal Constitutional Court. From 01/01/2025, property tax will only be charged according to the new law, which brings further need for adjustment for the municipalities. Property tax is also one of the most important sources of income for the municipalities, right after the trade tax and the share of the municipal share of income tax.

investments in the infrastructure

The planned investments in Weisenheim am Berg include the construction of a cycle and sidewalk on Landesstraße 522 and the creation of additional parking spaces. In view of the financial challenges that many municipalities currently have to cope, it is crucial to promote such projects. According to the context already mentioned, the municipal expenditure, especially in infrastructure areas, could increase, while the collective budgetary situations of many cities and municipalities become more tense.

The property tax is charged in different types of property. This includes both land and buildings and farms. The legally defined basis for property tax usually forms the value of the property, whereby the new reform significantly changes the calculation methods. This reform does not necessarily lead to a higher tax burden, because the lifting rate is shown to be new. Nevertheless, it is expected that the individual tax height will change for many owners, with some more and more paying.

The far -reaching consequences of the reform

The new regulations and their effects on municipal finances are far -reaching. In many regions of Germany, the municipalities complain about an investment backlog that could be reinforced in the coming years. The court remains that the federal and state governments support the strongly preferred municipalities in order to improve the quality of life and to master the social challenges. The investment deficit in the municipalities is currently around 149 billion euros, which underlines the urgency of structural reforms.

The municipal households are under pressure because income from property tax is used to finance schools, daycare centers, swimming pools, libraries, fire brigade and infrastructure investments. Many cities and municipalities expect that they will have to make cuts in areas such as culture and sport due to falling income in the next few years. These developments draw a worrying image of the financial reality of many communities that urgently need adapted financial strategies to ensure the ability to act.