The Erding district youth association has little financial flexibility. This is due to the deficit, which he was able to at least reduce to 77,000 euros.
Erding – The situation of the Kreisjugendring (KJR) Erding remains financially tense. The deficit was reduced from 93,000 euros - legacy issues from previous years - to a good 77,000 euros. But these also “hurt us,” as managing director Kristin Hüwel explained at the general meeting on Tuesday evening. She has only been in office for almost a year (half position) and remains optimistic. She shares this attitude with the volunteer board team led by Sabine Wendt, who were confirmed in office by the delegates.
The district's youth organizations are brought together in the district youth ring. The KJR supports and advises youth leaders and associations on youth work issues, funding and further training. The aim is to create positive conditions for children and young people. This happens in many ways, as the annual report for 2023 made clear, which assessor Nico Schmidt summarized in a short film. Topics included experiencing nature at the Notzinger Weiher, where the KJR runs the youth campsite on behalf of the district, youth meeting and youth forum in Wartenberg, the rental of the game trailer and tents for circus and theater performances, cooperation and the new office on Freisinger Straße , which was inaugurated at an association day.
The focus last year was on reducing the deficit. “We have painted many corners,” emphasized Hüwel. This is how we managed to ensure that “the areas we manage are balanced”. An additional flat-rate grant from the district office also contributed to this. In some areas, a small increase was even achieved, which serves as a buffer. But the deficit remains.
Because the financial regulations do not allow an unbalanced budget, the delegates were unable to discharge the board and Chairwoman Wendt was unable to sign the annual financial statements. There wasn't much discussion about it. Auditor Christopher Claar had no complaints about the cash management - "everything was clean and complete" - but criticized the district office because the flat-rate grant was late and not received quarterly - as agreed. It was said that things were going better this year.
For cost reasons, the children's leisure activity during the summer holidays last took place in Werdenweng in 2023. This year it is planned for the beginning of September in the Bavarian Forest, announced Hüwel. She couldn't say more about this year's offer because funding commitments have not yet been made. This is also due to the fact that the Bavarian state budget will not be passed until the beginning of June. Hüwel announced a supplementary budget – with a volume of almost 500,000 euros.
“We have no money and no fear. Something will work out,” said Hüwel. She is looking for all kinds of funding in order to be able to set up offers. However, most of the funding comes with a personal contribution that the KJR can hardly afford on its own.
But a few things will happen: the children's city in Taufkirchen is planned for the end of May. In the project, children are allowed to decide what happens in their city. In addition, Erding is the European flagship and a number of projects are planned. The KJR is looking for volunteer supervisors and helpers for both and also for the youth leisure activities.
A media day took place in February. They also want to promote media education among children, for example in recognizing fake news. “After all, we have an educational mission,” says Hüwel. Second chairwoman Andrea Jarmurskewitz announced that there would be another circus project this year - with older children at the Notzinger Weiher.
“Your ideas are important and right,” emphasized Deputy District Administrator Franz Hofstetter in his welcoming speech. He underlined the importance of the KJR, but also curbed expectations that more money could be expected from the district. “Finances are difficult at the moment. The red pencil is being applied everywhere.”
In the new elections, chairwoman Sabine Wendt, deputy Andrea Jarmurskewitz, assessors Nico Schmidt and Markus Ertl as well as auditors Christopher Claar and Herbert Kollmannsberger were almost unanimously confirmed in their positions by the 31 delegates. However, no additional assessors – up to five are possible – were found.