Millions for Therme: City Council brings important budget decisions!

Von Markus Schneiderling

Der Bad Dürkheimer Stadtrat beschließt 8,5 Millionen Euro für die Therme. Nachtragshaushalt am 17. Juni zur Finanzierung vorgesehen.
The Bad Dürkheim city council decides 8.5 million euros for the thermal bath. Addendum budget provided for financing on June 17th. (Symbolbild/ANAG)

The city council of Bad Dürkheim recently made a decision that has significant financial effects for the municipal utility. On Tuesday, it was decided to pay 8.5 million euros to the municipal utility company to cover the additional costs of the new thermal bath. This money is already planned for the years 2024 and 2025, with 3.5 million euros for 2024 and 5 million euros for 2025. Those responsible in Bad Dürkheim are working on dealing with the financial challenges related to thermal bath construction.

In this context, further additional costs in a supplementary budget are to be taken into account, which the city council will decide on June 17. The financial situation of the city and the supplementary budget are discussed in the upcoming meetings in the main and finance committee, which are planned for May 27th and June 10th

challenges due to increasing construction costs

The "Sprudelhof Therme" in Bad Nauheim has already opened its gates and attracts visitors. But the financial burdens from the thermal bath building not only affect Bad Dürkheim. It is noteworthy that similar challenges appear in other cities. The main committee of the German City Day has recently commented on increasing construction costs in the public and private sector. These cost increases endanger the completion and start of construction projects, which can burden the financial planning in cities

The magistrate of Bad Nauheim has submitted an application for 1.5 million euros for 2024 and an obligation to commit to 2025 in the amount of 1 million euros. These applications are justified by the development of construction and raw material prices and the necessary acceleration measures during the construction period. Due to the increasing costs, the magistrate is also encouraged to avoid a cost increase in the grant for the music school by considering cheaper alternatives.

Financial perspectives of the city

Mayor Natalie Bauerschmitt (CDU) has emphasized that savings in the core budget will be an essential area. In addition, the city is planning a review of fees, whereby tax increases are considered the "last possible step". This strategic orientation is important to alleviate the financial pressure on the city and at the same time to consider the wishes of the residents.

An interesting detail is that the Greens abstained when deciding on the payment, since the effects of the thermal building on the perspectives of the municipal utilities are unclear. This uncertainty illustrates the challenges in front of which the city of Bad Dürkheim and Bad Nauheim are standing, while they have to manage complex financial structures and at the same time have to meet the needs of their citizens.

In summary, it can be said that the developments of the thermal baths in Bad Nauheim and the associated financial decisions of the city of Bad Dürkheim are an exemplary picture for the challenges of many municipalities in Germany. The ongoing discussions about increasing construction costs and their consequences will continue to focus.

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