Court of Auditors urges the MV government to adopt a solid financial policy

Shortly before the start of coalition negotiations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the State Audit Office spoke up.

He sees the record deficit of 3 billion euros in 2020 as a warning signal.

Because not all additional expenses can be justified with Corona, say the examiners.

Schwerin - The State Audit Office has warned the future government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania against a loose spending policy and called for a quick return to a "consolidation-oriented course". "The debt brake is in the state constitution and must therefore be adhered to," emphasized the Court of Auditors Martina Johannsen when presenting a ten-point debt paper. In it, the country's highest audit authority denounces “circumvention solutions” for the debt brake.

In Johannsen's opinion, the corona protection fund created by the state in 2020 by means of loans is completely oversized with 2.85 billion euros.

Just 600 million euros of this have been sufficient or specifically approved in the course of the pandemic so far.

The government gives this sum at 1.3 billion euros, but includes special funds for digitization or Rostock University Medicine in the three-digit million range.

also read

State and municipalities: Prioritize tasks before financial equalization

Postponed, but not canceled: The state has to give the municipalities a hand if it wants to make good progress in education, climate protection and transport.

Now the projects should first be prioritized and given price tags.

State and municipalities: Prioritize tasks before financial equalization

Saving for your own home: housing construction premiums are worthwhile for many

If you want to move into your own four walls, you get money from the state.

A small home loan and savings contract or the purchase of shares in a cooperative is enough for the home construction bonus.

Saving for your own home: housing construction premiums are worthwhile for many

Taubert: Good cheer for the household without new debts

Take up new debt or not?

This question moves the budget negotiations of the state government.

After the “chief talks”, the pendulum seems to be swinging in the direction of moderation.

Taubert: Good cheer for the household without new debts

This money from the crisis fund is thus bunkered for tasks that have nothing to do with the corona pandemic and are therefore considered shadow households.

"You can't just stick a corona sign on a desired project," warned Johannsen.

It is also worrying that when the state budget was being prepared for 2022/2023, the departments had already announced additional requirements totaling around one billion euros.

In addition, it is to be expected that further expenses will be agreed in the course of the upcoming coalition negotiations.

Even the regular double budget for 2020/2021 could only be balanced with access to reserves and the current tax income was lower due to the corona.

For the repayment of the overdrawn Corona loans, the country must plan 140 million euros for each of the next 20 years.

“With such a financial policy, the future of the children and grandchildren will be flattened,” said Johannsen.

In the list of demands, the Court of Auditors demands that expenditure be strictly aligned with income.

Personnel expenses should not be increased by additional positions.

The allocations to municipalities should not increase automatically, but depend on the efficiency of the state, the municipal administration become more effective.

The state parliament is requested to use the budget right to influence and control the actions of the government.

Budget discipline must have the highest priority, it says in the paper.

dpa