Rathaus bosses in Groß-Gerau raise the alarm: It is enough!

Rathaus bosses in Groß-Gerau raise the alarm: It is enough!

14 Mayor from the Groß-Gerau district have written an urgent fire letter. This letter, addressed to the district committee and district administrator Thomas Will (SPD), calls for reasonable financial support from the federal government and the state of Hesse. The signatories, which come from different communities such as Rüsselsheim, Biebesheim and Groß-Gerau, press the slogan "It is enough!" their resentment and helplessness. Many of them, such as Jochen Engel (Free Voters), Mayor of Trebur, warn that the municipalities are not allowed to be left in the rain.

In particular, the current draft budget ensures concern. The planned increase in the lifting rates for the district and school levy is sharply criticized. These taxes are essential for the construction and maintenance of schools in the district. Marcus Rahner (CDU), Mayor of Biebesheim, emphasizes that the municipal burden must not increase further. Thomas Winkler (Greens), Mayor of Mörfelden-Walldorf, also expresses that cuts in areas such as youth, sport and culture are harmful in the long term.

increased financing requirements

The signatories of the fire letter call for a rejection of the draft budget by the district council. The current design stipulates that the school levy should increase by 4.5 points and the circular levy by 3 points. For all municipalities, this means additional expenditure of around 14.5 million euros. For example, the district town of Groß-Gerau would have to pay a total of 1.6 million euros more by 2028, while the smallest municipality, Stockstadt am Rhein, has to plan with an additional 620,000 euros.

The mayors warn of the serious consequences of these financial burdens for the population. The increasing requirements on the part of the state and the federal government, in particular through social benefits, present the municipalities with almost insurmountable challenges. Although the municipalities perform 28.4 % of all state tasks, they only receive 15.5 % of taxes. This leads to an enormous pressure on local administration, since savings and cuts in voluntary services could be inevitable.

political support initiatives

District Administrator Thomas Will (SPD) has already assured his support for the concerns of the municipalities and is calling for a fundamental realignment of municipal financing. He proposes a reform of income tax in order to relieve low -income earners. Mathias Wagner, the Greens' state parliamentary group leader of the Greens, has also proposed a local investment program of two billion euros in order to provide the necessary financial resources.

For many of the signatories, the fire letter is an expression of the increasing frustration and the concern about the future financial orientation of the municipalities in the district of Groß-Gerau. The pressure on the municipalities, both financially and through the expectations of the federal government and the country, is evident in the already noticeable resistance of the population. Mayor and citizens fear that acceptance and trust in democracy will be endangered by further savings.

The problem of municipal financing is not only locally, but also Hesse- and nationwide highly topical. The federal government has increased its support from the increase in participation in social expenditure and sales tax shares, but the question remains how effective financial stability for municipalities can be guaranteed. Banks and experts indicate the responsibility of the countries that have to ensure adequate financial resources from the municipalities.

Potential solutions and structural improvements in the financing landscape for municipalities must be developed by the federal and state governments. How the fundamental financial interests of the municipalities can be secured in the future remains uncertain.