Just distribution of refugees: Main-Kinzig-Kreis raises the alarm!

Just distribution of refugees: Main-Kinzig-Kreis raises the alarm!

On April 25, 2025, a trend-setting judgment of the Hessian Administrative Court fell, which dismissed the Main-Kinzig district's standard control application. This application aimed to contest the Hessian "distribution and accommodation fees". The Court found that the statutory application period was not triggered, which could not contest the extension. This decision is regarded by many as a difficult setback for the Main-Kinzig district, which has been committed to a fairer distribution of refugees in Hesse for some time. Fuldaer Zeitung reports on the background and the reactions on this decision.

The "distribution and accommodation fees Ordinance" of the Hessian state government was extended in December 2022, but their content remained unchanged. This was criticized by the district administrator of the Main-Kinzig district, Thorsten Stolz, energetic. He complained that the state of Hesse did not react appropriately to the changed escape movements, especially as a result of the Ukraine War. Despite multiple political efforts for a fair solution, the Main-Kinzig-Kreis was not heard in its demand for a revision of the regulation.

inequality in refugee distribution

The Main-Kinzig-Kreis, which counts around 430,000 inhabitants, faces an unequal distribution of refugees. While he is obliged to accept 8.5 percent of the refugees arriving in the state of Hesse, smaller counties are only responsible for 1 percent. This discrepancy leads to an overload of local financial budgets, which is vehemently denounced by District Administrator and the first district deputy Andreas Hofmann.

Although the court rejected the standard control application for formal reasons, it expressed understanding of the criticism of the Main-Kinzig district of the current distribution practice. The Court recommends an amicable agreement between the municipalities and the state government to address the existing tensions and imbalances.

a (un) certain outlook

The decision of the court can be seen as a success for the Main-Kinzig district, since it signals a certain willingness to talk to the state government. So far, however, only non -binding announcements have been made to revise the regulation. The discourse on a fairer distribution of refugees in the state of Hesse is thus re -lit.

The topics of refugee distribution and municipal financing will probably continue to be on the political agenda of the Main-Kinzig district. The pressure on the state government of responding to the legitimate concerns of the municipalities grows.