Dispute over the costs: Construction of the refugee accommodation in Niederkassel!

Dispute over the costs: Construction of the refugee accommodation in Niederkassel!

In Niederkassel, the construction of a central accommodation facility (ZUE) for refugees is intensively discussed. The city administration now received confirmation from the municipal supervision in the Siegburg district house that the cost estimate for the accommodation and care of refugees is considered plausible. This confirmation comes at a time when the citizens' request against the facility expresses considerable doubts about the cost accounting. The initiators of the request describe the cost estimate as dubious and request transparent accounting of the previous expenses.

Citizens already had the opportunity on September 18, 2024 to find out more about the plans for the plans in an information event in the auditorium of the Alfred Delp Realschule. Around 200 participants, including many council members, opted for the dialogue that evening. The planned location for the Zue is located at the roundabout L269/Spicher Straße in front of the gravel plant and was selected after an intensive testing of eight possible areas.

financial relief for the city

The city of Niederkassel hopes for a considerable financial relief from the zue. With a maximum capacity of 350 people, the city could save up to 23,709,000 euros over the period of ten years. The operation and construction costs of the zue are fully borne by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This means that the city has no own costs for the accommodation of the refugees who are temporarily accommodated in the zue until they are distributed to the different cities and municipalities.

The administration calculates the annual net effort per refugee to 6,774 euros. In addition, the city expects savings of around 2.4 to 2.5 million euros annually during the ten -year contract term. These calculations include expenses for accommodation, security services, living costs, hospital assistance as well as costs for youth and education.

The role of local supervision and citizens' initiatives

Despite the positive confirmation by the local authority, the citizens' request remains active. It was submitted on January 18, 2025, and the admissibility was found on January 30, 2025. If the initiative collects sufficient support signatures, this could lead to a citizens' decision. The citizens' request are an important instrument to include the opinions and concerns of the population in decision -making processes, especially when it comes to sensitive issues such as the accommodation of refugees.

The Zue will also include a comprehensive security concept that includes a 24-hour security service and regular control courses in order to take concerns about the population regarding security. Mayor Matthias Großgarten underlines the importance of the zue as part of the obligation to accept refugees and the possibility of budget relief by this measure.

In a nationwide law to change the refugee recording law, the flat rate for accommodation was also increased. All of these factors flow into the planned implementation of the zue, which may be decisive for the future of refugee accommodation in Niederkassel.

Further information on the plans can be found on the pages of the city administration at niederkassel.de and in the report by ksta.de .