Coalition still has to save 200 million euros
Created: 05/01/2022, 08:52
Numerous banknotes lie on a table.
© Monika Skolimowska/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa/Symbolbild
In financial policy, Saxony-Anhalt is approaching the week of truth - in the next few days, the 2022 budget is to be lashed down in the state parliament.
To do this, the coalition must clear an additional hurdle.
Magdeburg - Good for the citizens, bad for the state budget: The federal government's planned energy cost relief package will cause a hole in the budget in Saxony-Anhalt shortly before the end of the budget consultations.
The coalition of CDU, SPD and FDP must compensate for an additional 200 million euros in the short term.
This was confirmed by financial politicians in the coalition of the German Press Agency.
The federal cabinet launched a billion-euro relief package last week because of the sharp rise in energy prices.
Among other things, the energy tax on fuel is to be reduced for a limited period and a bonus is to be paid for families with children.
Employed persons should receive a one-time lump sum of 300 euros gross.
The measures ensure lower tax revenues in Saxony-Anhalt.
In the state budget for 2022, spending of more than 13 billion euros has never been planned.
This week is the crucial cleaning session in the finance committee.
Instead of cuts, the coalition wants to help itself with a special move: the so-called global underspending.
In this way, the 200 million euros are to be saved during ongoing operations.
Black-red-yellow assumes that this will succeed.
It is to be expected that by the end of the year not all funds in the budget will be drained and that the money will come together, said CDU finance politician Guido Heuer.
"We will not get all the skilled workers that are supposed to be hired."
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Actually, the coalition wanted to do without the financial trick that had already been used in the past.
However, due to the plans of the federal government and due to additional expenditure for refugees from Ukraine, the global underspending will probably be used after all.
According to the coalition, radical cuts would only lead to “unnecessary fuss”.
Because the parliamentary groups also want to accommodate desired projects in the budget.
The financial politicians of the coalition will meet on Monday to discuss the controversial projects.
The SPD wants more state money for school social work.
"We'll do something there," said SPD country chief Andreas Schmidt.
According to financial politician Jörg Bernstein, the FDP also wants to invest in education.
“The costs of free schools have risen.
We'll have to see if we can still accommodate something there." The CDU is pushing for more money for the renovation of district roads.
The opposition left faction criticizes the plans with the global underspending.
Fiscal politician Andreas Henke warned against cuts in the budget and suggested borrowing instead.
dpa