Centipede balancing act: Landsberg budget decided

Created: 12/22/2022, 12:33 p.m

By: Susanne Greiner

Does it really need to be rebuilt?

And if so, is year-round use affordable?

The Inselbad as a cost factor was a topic in some of the parliamentary groups' budget speeches.

© pohl zt gmbh

Landsberg – The factions in the Landsberg city council agree that 2022 was a challenging year and that it won’t get any easier.

The 2023 budget was also approved by a large majority at the last meeting of the year.

Dissenting votes - six - came from the ranks of the CSU or from the Landsberger Mitte.

Christian Hettmer's (CSU) criticism: In the 2023 budget, it is not wisdom that rules, but "hope and faith". 

Christian Hettmer (CSU) used the domestic nativity scene with the Three Wise Men as an image for his speech - and the associated dispute as to who was allowed to put up the elephant and who was allowed to put up the camel.

Unfortunately, the gifts of the kings would not benefit the city.

Gold would certainly benefit the 2023 budget.

If one interprets the gold as wisdom, that certainly cannot do any harm either.

Although the district town is one of the three 'richest' district towns in Bavaria in terms of per capita tax revenue - the city expects income of almost 90 million euros in 2023 - there is a lack of money to set up a balanced financial budget: currently 1.3 million euros cannot be served from current activities.

Luckily there are reserves.

You have to look for mistakes in yourself, not in war, Corona or an increased district levy.

"Pay what you order" is the motto.

And to keep an eye on the projects that have already been decided on, which will require investments of over 90 million euros in the years up to 2026.

It is important to talk specifically about money - "even before the takeover or the decision on new construction projects".

He hopes for joint solution strategies in the future.

Ulrike Gömmer (Greens) described the unbalanced budget as a "luxury problem".

After all, the city has high liquidity, which is due to the investment backlog.

The fact that the city council continues to diligently decide on projects is a mistake à la "Groundhog Day", to whine about decisions and their consequences, but not consistently.

Schlossberg, youth center and city museum are important.

One has to ask oneself - also with regard to climate protection - whether the new building planned for the Inselbad needs a roof terrace and year-round use.

And maybe the demolition of the existing building should be reconsidered.

In the future, unpopular measures such as passing on energy costs to users - see ice rink - will also be necessary.

And a prioritization of investments, "as repeatedly reminded by budget officer Hettmer".

Act instead of cry

Christoph Jell (UBV) compared the household with a "suit without the smallest bit of superfluous material" - but appropriate.

It guarantees the long-term performance of the city, which the district office has already promised.

The construction of the youth center and the Schlossberg school had been decided, and the city museum and Jesuit college were to be preserved.

Thanks to good reserves, there is still scope for further, urgent investments such as the creation of social housing.

Nevertheless, 'keep your eyes open' when it comes to spending and reducing where possible.

And "act carefully instead of howling".

Felix Bredschneijer (SPD) reacted spontaneously to Hettmer's crib comparison: He likes to put the ox up.

If Hettmer takes over the donkey.

A lot has changed and will change – now even part of the CSU votes against the budget.

Local politics should not be party politics.

The reason for the unbalanced budget is the investments.

However, these were used for the construction of crèches and schools, the youth center or social housing, i.e. the Landsbergers of tomorrow: “We don’t drive on sight.

We drive with foresight.” “Saving up” the household should not be the means of choice.

It is spectacular what savings have been made by the finance department and administration.

Nevertheless, urban planning should not be dictated by savings.

"Moderate decisions" are announced.

"Almost halfway through the legislative period," stated Jonas Pioch (Landberger Mitte).

If the city continues to play like this, it will reach the limits of its resilience.

That's why you have to "manage instead of design".

an "uncertain factor" will continue to be the "artificial inflation" of the district budget and the resulting increase in the district levy.

In order to ensure the necessary prioritization - not all planned projects can be implemented in the planned period - cost controlling is essential.

And cutbacks in projects would also have to be considered, as has already happened with the originally planned underground car park of the new youth center, for example in relation to the restaurant in the Inselbad in the future.

Fortunately, the federal government has postponed the introduction of sales tax for municipalities and associations until 2025.

Still, that will come.

The municipality must pass on the additional costs to the citizens or plan for them in a "socio-politically understandable" manner.

The city council approved the budget for 2023 with 21:6.