Corona and no end: If a new lockdown comes, it could tear big holes in the state budget again.
The municipalities take this into account - also in their own interest.
Stuttgart - The further expansion of the daycare center in the coming year is financially secure and digitization in town halls is also expected to get a boost: on Friday evening, after a long struggle, the state government and municipalities agreed on a financial package of 170 million euros for cities and municipalities, such as the German press agency learned from both sides. Because of the worsening corona crisis and acute risks for the state budget, the municipalities declared themselves ready to postpone further claims for the time being. Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz (Greens) said: “We are in the middle of the fourth wave of the pandemic and our scope as a country is limited. The municipalities accept that and I am grateful to them for that. "
The largest chunk of the agreed package is 41.5 million euros for the digitization of the municipal administration, so that, for example, citizens' offices can offer more services online in the future.
In addition, the state is increasing its grants for all-day care at elementary and general education schools by 39 million euros.
The government made up of the Greens and CDU also agreed to step in financially in the expansion of the daycare centers if the designated new federal government made up of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP should interrupt funding in the coming year.
For this purpose, 70 million euros are reserved in the reserve for budgetary risks.
also read
Negotiations on the EU budget for 2022 are currently unsuccessful
How much money should the EU budget for 2022?
Representatives of the governments of the member states and the European Parliament argue about this question.
The time for a timely agreement is running out.
Negotiations on the EU budget for 2022 are currently unsuccessful
Rhineland-Palatinate is embarking on the school of the future
To kick off a large-scale program for the school of the future, the state government is preparing a congress on November 12th in Mainz.
At this "future congress" should be discussed "in which directions the school of the future should be developed", said the education minister of Rhineland-Palatinate Stefanie Hubig (SPD) of the German press agency.
Rhineland-Palatinate is embarking on the school of the future
Opposition tears apart the green-black budget plans
For some it is the foundation for a good future, for others it is building it: the state budget for 2022. The green-black spending plans divide tempers.
Opposition tears apart the green-black budget plans
Originally, the city, municipality and county council had called for aid amounting to 1.4 billion euros.
However, both sides agreed to clarify the question of further investments in schools, daycare centers, digitization, clinics, local public transport and climate protection in early consultations for the 2023/24 budget.
The state fears that it may have to put together aid packages again, as it did last year, if trade and gastronomy were to be closed again due to the pandemic - which would again have negative consequences for cities and municipalities.
Nevertheless, the green-black government and the municipalities agreed on further measures: The pact for integration is to be continued.
The 15.5 million euros are primarily intended to pay for integration workers in cities and municipalities.
With a further 6.9 million euros, the lower nature conservation and agricultural authorities should be able to hire new staff.
The municipal hospitals are to receive 5 million euros to advance their digitization.
There is also a supplement of 3 million euros for the operation and maintenance of state roads.
The government made another promise: Should not all funds be drawn from the corona rescue package for hospitals, municipal clinics should also benefit.
The country has set aside 240 million euros for this.
The background to the agreement is also the tax estimate from November, which eased the financial situation somewhat.
Accordingly, the state can expect a good 2.5 billion euros more for the coming year, the municipalities with an increase of 1.5 billion euros.
The leaders of the green-black coalition then decided to again set up a reserve for budget risks in the amount of around 760 million euros in the 2022 budget, from which the money for the municipalities will now come.
dpa