Financial crisis in the Bad Kreuznach district: Deficit alarmed citizens!

Financial crisis in the Bad Kreuznach district: Deficit alarmed citizens!

The financial situation in the Bad Kreuznach district is heading. According to reports from Rhein-Zeitung , the household shows an alarming deficit of more than 16 million euros. This is the result of years of challenges in housekeeping, which dissatisfied the Supervisory and Service Directorate (ADD). The authority has not approved the budget and calls for an increase in the circular levy to 48.2 percent.

However, the district council has spoken out against the full claim of the add. This is particularly worrying because the budget of the current year was also not approved with a deficit of 16.46 million euros. This situation indicates a deep structural crisis that affects not only local politics, but also the broader financial stability of the region.

deficit and scope for action

The Add in Trier directed an enlightenment search to the city of Bad Kreuznach in mid -March, which underlines the urgency of the situation. The household plan 2025, which was submitted on February 21, 2025, reveals a clear minus. Therefore, the city had to explain how it would like to compensate for the deficit. A break -in of trade tax from 35 million euros in the previous year to just 26 million euros in 2025 the financial situation.

in a meeting of the Finance Committee at the end of October 2023 under Mayor Thomas Blechschmidt there was desperation about the lack of scope for maneuver. Increasing expenses for social services, youth welfare, care and daycare care further tighten the situation. Although the first draft budget was revised and the deficit was reduced by around 7 million euros, six urgently needed positions were not planned. This could significantly impair the completion of urban tasks.

future income and reforms

The city is examining new sources of income, including a planned packaging tax and a bed tax, both from 2026. In addition, the rate of property tax B will be discussed in the city council in May 2024. Here an increase could be from 550 to 679 percent, which would also put a strain on the financial situation of many citizens.

The changes in the state finance compensation from 2025, which no longer provide for a separate flat rate for large districts of the district, lead to a loss of over 3.2 million euros. The city administration demands clear measures to prevent municipalities from being left alone in financial difficulties. According to the information from Antenne KH , 75 percent of the cities in Rhineland-Palatinate are currently struggling with an unbalanced budget.

structural reforms urgently necessary

The current financial challenges are part of a higher-level crisis that, according to the German City Day , can be expected to be 13 billion euros in 2024 and similar amounts for the following years. We are faced with a structural crisis that endangers the competitiveness of the cities. Growing expenses must be compensated for by suitable financial strategies to secure the municipal infrastructure and social institutions.

There is a need for action not only in the Bad Kreuznach district, but also at the state and federal level. The municipalities are calling for a structural change to maintain financial scope that is necessary to meet their obligation to provide services without getting into a debt trap.