Worms: Brunnen stay dry - budget crisis hits the citizens!

Worms: Brunnen stay dry - budget crisis hits the citizens!

The fountains in Worms remain dry until further notice, since the urban budget has not yet been approved for 2025. In the period of "provisional housekeeping", the municipality is prohibited from making expenses for voluntary services such as the operation of Brunnen. The popular water dispensers are initially quiet, which is disappointed with the citizens.

Mayor Adolf Kessel (CDU) comments on the situation and explains that he cannot grant a grant for the fountain. The running costs for the fountains amount to an average five -digit sum. However, Kessel hopes for an early approval of the budget statute by the Supervisory and Service Directorate (ADD) to improve the situation.

budget crisis and necessary expenses

The reasons for the limited financial situation are considerable. In December 2022, the city council decided to draft a budget that has a deficit of 70.7 million euros. Due to these financial challenges, the Add municipal supervision has given a global debt, which forces the city to create a new budget.

At the moment, Worms can only make legally mandatory or unadorned expenses for necessary tasks. This means that voluntary services and thus the operation of the fountains are not financed. However, two drinking water fountains are temporarily put into operation at certain locations: one is located in Kämmererstraße, opposite the former Kaufhof building, the other at the traffic light crossing to the main train station.

The future of the fountains

The city administration has stated that advice on the new budget in the city council is expected at the end of May 2025. This gives the city's citizens only a brief hope that the fountains can soon bubble again. Kessel recognizes the dissatisfaction of the citizens and describes the decision to shut down the fountains as difficult.

The prospect of an early approval of the new budget remains uncertain, while the discussions about the next steps in the city administration are already in full swing. Without a clear financial perspective, however, it will be difficult to find solutions for leisure activities and public space in Worms. The city has to find a way to meet the needs of its citizens and at the same time to cope with the financial challenges.

For more information about the current developments in Worms that affect the fountain company, we refer to the reporting of Rheinpfalz by FFH .