Budget 2022: Wildsteig is hoping for last-minute income - a project worth millions will start next year

Created: 11/22/2022, 12:00 p.m

By: Katrin Kleinschmidt

The Wildsteig municipal council has approved the 2022 budget.

© IMAGO / Frank concern

Actually, he sets the general conditions for the whole year: But in Wildsteig, the budget for 2022 was only available in November this year - the reason is a staff shortage.

Although there are only a few weeks left in the year, there are still some imponderables in the figures.

Wildsteig – Marie Burg actually takes care of the finances in the Bernbeuren administrative community.

But now the treasurer sat in the Wildsteig municipal council to present the budget there.

Due to a staff shortage in the Steingaden administrative community, she helps out with the neighbors - understandably later than usual, the Wildsteiger therefore had their figures on the table this year.

This, in turn, also has an advantage: in many areas, Burg was able to work with amounts that had already been posted.

No big surprises are to be expected in the budget of around six million euros, which was ultimately passed unanimously.

But there are a few imponderables, admitted the chamberlain.

The largest relates to the Am Grohholz construction area.

Last year, the municipality took out a loan of around 200,000 euros for this, which served as interim financing and must be repaid by the end of 2022.

The municipality needs the money for the twelve plots of land that were sold this year by the end of December.

"It's going to be tight, you don't have to kid yourself," admitted Mayor Josef Taffertshofer.

Municipality manages without borrowing this year

The allocation of the building sites had started much later than originally thought - so the planned receipt of the money has now also been delayed.

"It would be very problematic if the money didn't come," said Burg, who pointed out that payments of subsidies for the renovation of the Lourdes grotto are still a long time coming.

"If push comes to shove, the result will be negative this year." For the finance department, that would still involve a lot of work to regulate it.

After all, the municipality managed without taking out a loan this year, so that the level of debt will drop from 2.34 million euros at the end of 2021 to an expected 2.08 million euros.

A snapshot, because Wildsteig is known to be planning a major project: a new building on Riedstrasse with a village shop, doctor's office and barrier-free apartments.

This year, the municipality already spent around 148,000 euros in planning costs.

But the big chunk will only come when construction begins.

It is expected to cost around four million euros over the next two years, and subsidies of around 1.5 million euros could at least cushion the financial burden a little – but it still doesn't work without borrowing.

The conversion of the parish hall into a place of pilgrimage should also be completed next year.

For this, Burg has taken into account around 150,000 euros for this year and 2023.

In the coming year, funding of around 90,000 euros is also to flow.

Do tax rates need to be raised?

For more than an hour, Burg had presented Wildsteig's large set of figures.

The administrative budget accounts for 2.79 million euros of the 6.02 million euros in the budget.

"You can compare it to a checking account," explained Burg.

This is because ongoing expenses, for example for staff or for the maintenance of the property, would be settled.

The asset budget also includes 3.23 million euros this year.

"It's comparable to a savings book" - and ultimately also decides what the village can afford and treat itself to.

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Burg's presentation already provided an overview: The community is no different than the citizen - caution is called for when dealing with money.

Inflation and the energy crisis bring imponderables with them.

The costs for electricity and heating are rising, and probably those for the staff as well.

In order to absorb this, the municipality must at least think about raising the assessment rates, said Burg.

The significantly increased trade tax revenue - in Corona year 2021 it was 169,000 euros, this year it is expected to be 240,000 euros - does not necessarily remain at the higher level, warned the treasurer.

How it will affect if a recession occurs, i.e. the economic power in the country decreases, "is not yet foreseeable".

You can find more current news from the region around Schongau at Merkur.de/Schongau.