Cities require billions of special assets for urgently needed infrastructure!

Cities require billions of special assets for urgently needed infrastructure!

As part of the current coalition negotiations between the CDU/CSU and the SPD, the German Cities Day has formulated clear demands on politics. Led by Association President Markus Lewe, a stronger ability to act is required. A central point is the provision of an infrastructure special assets of 100 billion euros for the federal states and municipalities. This money should not only serve to accelerate infrastructure projects, but also ensure that further funds from the climate and transformation fund arrive quickly and easily on site. However, Lewe expressly warns of tax cuts that could also burden the municipal cash registers and calls for a higher tax share for the cities.

The claim for a higher tax share is supplemented by a review of the requirements of the federal and state governments to reduce bureaucracy. This is particularly important because urban projects are often slowed down by complicated processes. Cities should receive fixed budgets from the special fund in order to be able to implement measures independently.

need for simplified procedures

Katja Dörner, Vice President of the German City Day, emphasizes that a novella of the Building Code is necessary to facilitate the implementation of construction projects. Improved equipment of the municipal authorities with personnel and digital procedures is also required. In this context, the agreement of nature conservation and infrastructure is of central importance. Dörner proposes to provide compensation areas about area agencies and to simplify nature and species protection law exams in the renovation of existing infrastructure.

Especially the East German cities welcome the planned special fund. The investment backlog in this room is often dramatic. Money that arrives on site is urgently needed to renovate schools, streets and bridges, the construction of new apartments as well as for the expansion of childcare and the modernization of local public transport. Burkhard Jung, Vice President of the German City Day and Mayor of Leipzig, confirmed at the conference of East German cities that more money is only effective if spending processes are simplified. Here, too, the demand for fixed budgets is in the room.

Criticism of previous financing models

The complicated guidelines prevent the cities from working efficiently. This binds staff who are needed for other important tasks. Therefore, it is essential that the reduction in bureaucracy also becomes part of the discussion about the special fund. There is also positive feedback on the exploratory paper of the Union and SPD, which includes reintroduction of the language support program in daycare centers and an extension of the rental price brake. The demands for more funds for job centers and an expansion and modernization pact for public transport are also in space.

East Germany still faces a great need for investments. Public transport transports over 7 million passengers in this region every day. In view of the lack of financial commitments from the federal government for the expansion and modernization pact in the last legislative period, there is an urgent need for long-term financial commitments, especially for the Germany ticket that expires at the end of 2025.

The fulfillment of these demands will make a significant contribution to remaining future -proof and livable.