There is nothing to interpret: a deficit of 219 million euros is a deficit of 219 million euros.

That's far too much and shows that Frankfurt's finances are sewn on edge.

The fact that the reserves are melting faster than the polar ice caps is also not exactly encouraging – they should be gone completely next year.

And it's not as if the city looks like it's been peeled from the egg for the future.

On the contrary, there is a lot to be done, and that needs to be paid for: climate protection, the turnaround in traffic, municipal stages, to name just the most costly challenges.

The fact that the level of debt is due to rise to 4.2 billion euros by 2025 in view of the investment projects, after being “only” 1.5 billion euros in 2015, is another alarm signal, because nobody knows how this mountain will ever be removed .

A crisis budget for Frankfurt

Nevertheless, a few comments should be allowed before the usual party-political reflexes dominate the budget debate in the city parliament this Thursday: This budget is worthy of criticism, a crisis budget, as treasurer Bastian Bergerhoff (Die Grünen) rightly emphasizes, but it is not fundamental departure from previous plans.

Since 2017, the city has racked up enormous debt and dwindled reserves, although prior to 2020, Corona was known to be just a Mexican beer and not a health crisis.

Incidentally, the shortfall is only conditionally record-breaking: in 2010 and 2011 it was even higher.

That doesn't excuse anything, but it could be a stimulus for those who are hard hitting the debate but live in glass houses themselves.

But it is also true that this household is little more than the background story for the play that has yet to be written.

Because the savings proposals should now be delivered by the departments, and only then will it become concrete.

Let's talk smack: Should the millions invested in the energetic upgrading of existing buildings be postponed?

Should the decision about the municipal theaters be postponed?

Should there be savings on staff, even though the job plan template for 2022 only envisages a moderate increase of 58 jobs and Frankfurt is continuing to grow, albeit more slowly?

It would be in the interest of the city if there were concrete plans soon.

Because the budget is pricing in the Corona crisis, but at the same time continues to build on a phase of low interest rates and increasing income from trade, income and sales tax.

If that's how it all turns out.