Friedrich Zeller identifies a “loop of more and more” in the district budget.
The former SPD district administrator again criticized the treasurer and his calculations.
He misses the savings.
When it comes to money, there's no more fun.
Especially when there isn't enough of it.
No wonder that finances keep the district council busy.
When the supplementary budget in the Peißenberger Tiefstollenhalle was on the agenda, positive words could first be heard.
Of course, there were big chunks on the expenditure side, but also on the income side.
"With the additional income in the administrative budget, the additional expenditure in the asset budget can be absorbed," said Andrea Jochner-Weiß.
And the fact that the district levy will probably only increase by 0.3 instead of two percentage points in 2022 means that the next year is “more positive than in the spring”.
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Friedrich Zeller
© Gronau
Kämmerer Norbert Merk also pointed out that although the volume of the budget increased properly due to the supplement - from 235 to the record value of 260 million euros - the additional costs were "possible without increasing the debt scenario".
The chamberlain hardly went into the supplementary budget - also because the district council did not demand it - instead he looked to the future.
“We are approaching uncertain times,” he said.
Above all, falling business tax receipts could cause problems.
In addition, the district has big tasks ahead of it, as Merk had already noted in the district and finance committee.
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Norbert Merk
© Rudder
Despite these hints, Friedrich Zeller (SPD) was still too positive when looking at the budget. "I'm not euphoric, I have to pour water into the wine," said the former district administrator, who had already verbally raised his index finger in the committee. The debt worries him greatly. It should be around 72.7 million euros by the end of the year. According to Merk's forecast, they could rise to around 104 million euros by 2024. “That is a huge debt development”, criticized Zeller, who even spoke of “mercantilism - the name is apt” -. One should not believe that the state treasury can do everything itself and better.
Zeller was bothered by future investments that Merk had listed in a presentation - including, as already discussed in the committee, 27 million euros for living space for hospital staff.
The SPD district council did not go into this again; instead, this time it took up the 30 million euros that are listed for the renovation and replacement of the administrative buildings of the district office.
For Zeller, these calculations are incomprehensible, as none of them has so far been discussed in the district council.
Above all in the administration building "a lot has already been invested, even under my predecessor", Luitpold Braun, who was district administrator from 1996 to 2008.
“I also wonder where the savings approach is.
That would have to be suggested right from the start. "
"We are economical, even very economical"
Chamberlain Merk did not let Zeller's words sit on him.
"We have invested practically nothing in the official building," he contradicted and listed a few projects.
In total it was "not even 20 million euros" in 20 years.
“We are economical, even very economical,” said the treasurer - despite doubling the number of employees.
Zeller was certain that Merk had spontaneously forgotten some investments.
"It's a loop of getting more and more," he said.
Zeller didn't jump aside on the committee.
Only Peter Erhard - like Merk a CSU member - still spoke up and defended the treasurer.
The investment package shown for the coming years "is a placeholder for all of us," said Erhard.
"That is the job of a chamberlain to show us the future a little bit."
The supplementary budget debate came to an end, and there was peaceful unity again in the vote.
The entire district council approved the supplementary budget - including Friedrich Zeller.
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