Munich's city politicians apparently want to stick to the system of the Munich funding formula for daycare centers.
The Greens, SPD and CSU responded on Wednesday to a report in our newspaper, according to which the administrative court declared the municipal funding formula, i.e. the subsidy system for day-care centers, to be illegal.
The verdict is expected on September 27th.
"High quality standards in the Munich day-care centers continue to have top priority for us, as well as family-friendly opening times, fair allocation of places and affordable prices," said Green City Councilor Sebastian Weisenburger. They hold on to the commitment to educational justice, as well as to an urban funding system - regardless of how the verdict ultimately turns out. "Neither families nor daycare providers need to worry."
The funding formula has been around for eight years.
Anyone who signs it undertakes to adhere to certain formalities, such as an upper limit on the cost of a day care center.
Private day-care center operators who had not signed the funding formula but still wanted grants from the city had sued.
The court rejects the claim because the funding formula has no legal basis and is therefore unlawful.
If this assessment remains, one will seek clarification by a higher authority, especially in terms of legal security, says Weisenburger.
Because: The judgment could also have significance for municipal funding programs beyond Munich, since these are always issued according to a similar pattern: The city pays subsidies if the subsidy recipients adhere to certain conditions.
Munich invests 130 million euros annually in daycare subsidies.
“This is how we create optimal starting opportunities for all children,” says SPD city councilor Julia Schönfeld-Knor.
“We will continue to fight for this goal.
The fact that the daycare centers are largely free of charge is also beyond question for us.
When the judgment is there, we'll see what needs to be done - and then do it. "
Beatrix Burkhardt (CSU) thinks it is surprising that the legal supervisory authority and the city's legal department have not found any legal weaknesses in the funding formula in eight years.
"Now we can only hope that there won't be any major changes, but that a solution will be found - also for private day-care centers."
