The Corona crisis does not make it easy for the treasurers to set up the 2020 budget. Christian Hornsteiner can sing a song about it. He had to make savings.
Farchant - How time flies. Martin Wohlketzetter and Christian Hornsteiner worked the household together twelve times. Over the years, there was routine. “Especially when there was money,” says Farchant's mayor and laughs. For the last time he chairs the council meeting. Enjoys it literally, jokes, tells anecdotes. For the last time, he also approves the budget. Because of the corona crisis, a light version with savings and initially canceled projects.
Wohlketzetter doesn't get upset quickly. Experience. He knows: "There were times when we were worse off." For example in 2009. At that time the former treasurer had sought his help. It still needed a good 200,000 euros to cover the administrative budget. You sat down, combed the numbers. "That was tough," says the mayor, but successfully. He cheers up the panel. Because Farchant has a good financial foundation. Despite Corona. "You shouldn't want too much."
Good reserves help in difficult times
It was more difficult for Kämmerer and Wohlketzetter's successor Hornsteiner to prepare the 2020 budget. Nobody can make any specific predictions as to how the pandemic will ultimately affect the municipal wallet. As a precaution, he had to use the red pencil. Reduced income tax on income by 200,000 euros, trade tax by 1.3 million euros and spa contributions by 25,000 euros. The sports center project and swimming pool renovation also fell victim to the crisis. "We have to slow this down a bit," emphasizes Wohlketzetter. This does not mean that the projects will not be pursued further.
Despite all the downer: The household with a volume of almost 13 million euros is impressive. In addition, there are almost 2.6 million euros in the piggy bank. "We can now draw from this." The municipality takes around 1.4 million euros from the reserve, among other things for municipal housing construction.
The projects in Farchant are on safe feet. For Gerhard Portele (free voters) everything is essential. It is important that they run. That there is "no municipal shutdown". There can be no question of that.
Apartments on Ronetsbachstrasse ready for occupancy in August
Work on the natural spa park has started. Mainly at the new toilet facility at the Waldfestplatz. 350,000 euros are planned for this year. The project costs a total of 940,000 euros, and the government of Upper Bavaria has already announced a grant of over 522,000 euros.
Read also: Farchants unique selling point: This is how the planned natural spa park should look
The residential construction project on Ronetsbachstrasse is also on the agenda and will be completed this year. The community had acquired the property through an inheritance. The nine apartments that are to be built should be ready for occupancy on August 1st. Cost: a total of three million euros. In this case, too, the Free State is receiving funding amounting to 1.22 million euros.
The energetic renovation of the town hall is almost complete. Only the remaining work has to be done. The photovoltaic system was installed last week. Hornsteiner plans to spend around 430,000 euros this year.
We are happy to continue
In the immediate vicinity you can go to the next section of the urban development program around the “Gern”. This year, the area between the Am Gern 1a estate and the St. Andreas church is to be upgraded. The investment for this part amounts to 660,000 euros. Again, Farchant will benefit from grants - in this case, the Free State will pay at least 50 percent of the full sum of a good two million euros.
The new mayor does not have to be scared and afraid. Don't do it either. "We shouldn't paint completely black," says Hornsteiner. If things go badly, there is a supplementary budget. But then for the first time without gutketter.
More on the subject: Mayor Martin Wohlketzetter: From the town hall to the Kramer tunnel
The numbers at a glance:
Total volume: | 13 million euros (result 2019: 14.6) |
Administrative budget: | 7.8 million euros (8.1) |
Budget: | 5.2 million euros (6.5) |
Revenue: | |
Property tax B: | 628,000 euros (626,000) |
Income tax: | 2.1 million euros (2.2) |
Trade tax: | 1.1 million euros (1.4) |
Key assignment: | 885,000 euros (866,500) |
Spa contribution: | 100,000 euros (125,000) |
Expenditure: | |
Personnel costs: | 1.8 million euros (2019 approach: 1.7) |
Circular contribution: | 1.9 million euros (1.9) |
Trade tax levy: | 101 300 euros (250 000) |
Childcare costs: | 771,000 euros (655,000) |
Allocation of asset budget: | 614 530 euros (1.1 million) |
Investments: | |
Municipal housing | |
Ronetsbachstrasse | 1.8 million euros |
Naturkurpark toilet facility | 350,000 euros |
Town hall renovation (remaining work) | 430,000 euros |
Renovation gladly | 660,000 euros |
Improvement of water supply network | 440,000 euros |
Loisach Bridge (remaining costs) | 100,000 euros |
Debts: | 6.3 million euros (6.0) |
Reserves: | 1.2 million euros (2.6) |