According to gloomy forecasts: That's how things are in Wolfratshausen 2023 with the finances

Created: 12/15/2022, 7:45 p.m

By: Carl Christian Eick

In Wolfratshausen, income and expenses still have to be calculated with a sharp pencil and pocket calculator.

© Symbolic photo / Christin Klose

City Treasurer Peter Schöfmann presented the key data of the budget for 2023 to the Wolfratshausen city council.

Times won't be rosy.

Wolfratshausen – From a financial point of view, the rafting town is not looking forward to rosy times, but the previously gloomy forecasts are unlikely to come true.

That is the quintessence of the draft budget for 2023, which City Treasurer Peter Schöfmann presented at the City Council's Christmas meeting on Tuesday evening.

No number has yet been set in stone, but one of the things that makes Schöfmann positive is that the share of income tax that the municipality is entitled to is “significantly higher” than expected.

According to gloomy forecasts: That's how things are in Wolfratshausen 2023 with the finances

The city treasurer is known for his cautious approach - and is therefore valued by the head of the city hall and the citizens' representatives.

When asked, the city treasurer did not allow himself to be pinned down.

Just this much: The trade tax revenue, which collapsed in 2021 due to corona, would probably exceed his “cautious” forecast at the beginning of this year.

The reliable accounting result for 2022 is not yet available - one of the reasons why the city council will only discuss the budget in depth in a public meeting in February.

However, it is already becoming apparent that "we must talk about what is financially possible and what is not," announced Mayor Klaus Heilinglechner.

Primarily with a view to the investment program.

Also read: This is how much the city of Wolfratshausen cost the surf wave project

14 million euros are in the draft budget for construction measures, above all the general renovation and expansion of the elementary and middle school on Hammerschmiedweg.

Against this background, 8.6 million euros have to be taken out of the piggy bank and a further six million euros taken out as a new loan.

But in view of the broken supply chains and overflowing order books in many companies, the head of the town hall does not assume “that we will actually use the 14 million euros next year”.

The treasurer sees it the same way, so maybe a four-million-euro loan and not quite as deep a dig into the reserve fund would be enough.

According to Heilinglechner, however, it cannot be ruled out that planned construction measures will have to be “cancelled or postponed”.

Mountain of debt is expected to be significantly higher by 2026

As of now, the level of debt will increase “significantly” from currently around five million euros to 35 million euros by 2026, according to Schöfmann.

All in all, the said school renovation and expansion alone accounts for 56 million euros.

"It's all planning," emphasized the Lord of the Numbers.

When it comes to debt, Schöfman hopes “that it won’t end up being so extreme after all”.

Personnel expenses: Presumably more than 10 million euros

As reported, the legal supervisory authority at the district office raised the index finger in the spring and warned of “hidden over-indebtedness” in the rafting town.

Schöfmann's information that the individual town hall departments did not exhaust their budgets this year, that is, they saved heavily, helps to calm the situation.

On the other hand, the city council had to take into account “massive personnel expenses” in its debates.

This year it's around 9.2 million euros - in 2023 the ten million euro mark will probably be broken.

Because of the galloping inflation, "we have to reckon with significant wage increases," explained Schöfmann.

Especially since one should not be fooled by the personnel expenses incurred this year.

There are still vacancies in City Hall that need to be filled as soon as possible.

Two pieces of good news at the end: The energy cost bill will be lower than feared, while the key allocation will be twice as high as forecast at a good 1.1 million euros.

(cce)

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