As harmonious as their concerts sound, the music school Schlierach-Leitzachtal has now ensured dissonance in the Miesbach city council. Because of the grants she gets.
Miesbach - While there was no question of the importance of musical support in the panel, opinions about the financial participation in it differed. Specifically, it was about extending the grant plan, which expires at the end of 2020, for another three years, said Mayor Gerhard Braunmiller (CSU). So far, the city has contributed 150 euros per Miesbach student to the tuition fees. With 163 students currently, this would mean annual expenses of just under 24,500 euros, says Braunmiller. The money would not only help to keep the fees moderate, but would also be a prerequisite for state subsidies.
Even before the city councilors could start the discussion, Markus Seemüller (FWG) - himself a musician - went to the microphone. Not, however, to sing praises to the music school. On the contrary: Seemüller applied to suspend the grant for the time being. Not only because the association had booked a surplus of around 65,800 euros in 2019 due to the vacant position of the music school director and the city had to reckon with negative effects of the Corona crisis on the budget in return, but above all because of equal treatment.
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"We also have a second music school in Miesbach with Klangraum," recalled Seemüller. As a privately owned company, it would offer almost the same fees - but without a city grant. "I know and like both music schools, so I don't want any distortion of competition," emphasized Seemüller. He knows from sound space that one feels quite disadvantaged from time to time. "This unequal treatment hurts me." In order to cushion possibly higher tuition fees, there are also other forms of subsidies, for example via the "Strong Family Law", reminded the FWG city council.
The majority in the city council, however, struck different tones. One should not compare a private institution with an association, said Alfred Mittermaier (CSU). "Otherwise we mix apples and pears." The municipalities are charged with promoting musical education. If you can no longer comply with this, you also risk the state subsidy. "We punish the music school twice," warned Mittermaier.
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Christian Mittermaier (CSU) also believed that support should be given to a club during this difficult time. Inge Jooß (SPD) even described suspending the subsidies as “shabby”. "The association serves a social purpose, which would normally be our urban task."
An opinion that ultimately prevailed at the council table in the Waitzinger cellar. With 18: 7 votes, the city councils gave the grant the green light for another three years. However, Mayor Braunmiller promised Seemüller to also seek a conversation with the private music school Klangraum. Jooß, on the other hand, had a wish for the Schlierach-Leitzachtal music school: "It would be nice if the city council were invited to the great concerts again."