The municipal umbrella organizations in Hesse do not agree with the draft for the double budget for the next two years that has just been presented by the state government.

The representatives of the districts, cities and municipalities call for “a significantly increased financial commitment by the state”.

Ewald Hetrodt

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung in Wiesbaden.

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According to a joint letter from the three associations, the aftermath of the corona pandemic, the Ukraine war and high inflation led to sharp increases in spending across all sectors within a very short time.

Above all, they want more money for local public transport.

Its finances are already strained and will continue to tighten due to the development of wage and energy costs and necessary investments in the light of the energy and mobility transition.

Transport associations report significantly higher demand

The transport associations had reported significantly higher requirements for the new financing agreement than the state had accepted with reference to alleged savings potential.

From the point of view of the municipal umbrella organizations, the state must raise a total of at least 427.5 million euros for the years 2023 and 2024 for the traffic turnaround to succeed.

Stakeholders also see an urgent need for action in their hospitals.

In recent years, especially during the pandemic, the municipal authorities have had to compensate for the deficits in their hospitals to a large extent and to make appropriate allocations from their municipal budgets.

All municipalities already contribute to a large extent to the financing of the investments through the hospital allocation.

Because the country is fulfilling its actual obligations here “only insufficiently”.

Together with the Hessian Hospital Society, the municipal umbrella organizations are therefore demanding that the state increase the investment allocations from original state funds by at least 150 million euros a year.

Funding from the State Welfare Association not secured

The funding of the state welfare association is also not secured from the point of view of the municipal umbrella organizations.

At least an additional 100 million euros would have to be budgeted for in the double budget.

In addition to the provision of "non-systemic services" and significantly increasing tariffs, the state welfare association sees itself confronted with a sharp increase in the number of cases in integration assistance.

This development leads to a surcharge that increases significantly year after year.

In 2022 alone, it will burden the Hessian districts and urban districts with an additional 130 million euros.

As reported, the budget for 2023 and 2024 has an annual volume in the region of 34 billion euros.

When the draft was presented, Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU) stated last week that a total of one billion euros would be mobilized for hospital financing in both years.

The sums for local public transport depend on the negotiations between the heads of government of the federal states and the Federal Chancellor.

They take place this Wednesday.