Pets are becoming more expensive in Geretsried: the municipality is increasing the dog tax significantly.
One council quarreled with the decision: "I would prefer a moderate increase"
Geretsried - The annual dog tax is to increase from January 1, 2022 from 40 to 60 euros.
The annual fee for a second dog is 80 euros, for a third animal 120 euros and for a fighting dog 1000 euros.
The main and finance committee spoke out in favor of this on Tuesday evening.
Geretsried increases the dog tax significantly - attack dogs are the most expensive
It is the first measure proposed by the “Budget Consolidation Working Group”. The city council founded it in April. It is headed by City Hall employee Thomas Schmid, who now recommended that the committee raise the dog tax. Not all members agreed. “We will not consolidate our budget with this”, admitted economic advisor Volker Reeh (Geretsrieder list). Nevertheless, he agreed to the increase.
Working group leader Thomas Schmid pointed out that the last adjustment was made in 2010.
The measure should not only flush additional income into the city coffers.
“The increase is also intended to limit the dog population in the densely populated urban area,” explained Schmid.
In addition to the positive effects of four-legged friends on owners and families, there are also many citizens with hygienic and acoustic concerns.
“All of these are interests protected by fundamental rights,” Schmid clarified.
He considers an increase in the tax by 50 percent over a total period of eleven years to be reasonable.
If the dog tax that came into force in 2022 were to apply for a decade, additional income would amount to around 270,000 euros.
Dogs in Geretsried are becoming significantly more expensive: Wolfratshausen is cheaper
However, Hans Hopfner (SPD) and Volker Reeh advocated putting the topic on the agenda of the main and finance committee again in five years' time.
"I would prefer a moderate increase to 50 euros for the time being," said Hopfner.
This amount is levied in the neighboring town of Wolfratshausen, for example.
Hopfner reported on senior citizens living alone for whom the dog tax poses a financial challenge due to their low pensions.
In Icking, the tax for four-legged friends was increased even more sharply than in Geretsried: For some dog breeds, owners will no longer pay 25, but 1000 euros in the future.
Martina Raschke (non-party for the Greens) spoke out in favor of the proposed amount of 60 euros.
"But we should vote again in five years," she said.
Must be leash in Geretsried?
"That is in progress"
In the end, only Hans Hopfner and Andreas Rottmüller (CSU) raised their hands against the working group's proposed resolution.
The administration now has to adapt the statute for the collection of the dog tax accordingly and to submit it to the city council in its next meeting for a final decision.
Professor Dr.
Detlev Ringer (Greens) also suggested the introduction of the leash requirement.
"That is in progress," assured Mayor Michael Müller (CSU) in conclusion.
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