Schongau passed a record budget with a volume of 51.4 million euros.
Pioneering projects for the future of the city have been mapped out.
But then you can't do more - for a long time.
"The limit of what is financially feasible has been reached," said the chamberlain.
Schongau – “These are figures that you first have to melt in your mouth”: Mayor Falk Sluyterman introduced the “Budget Statute 2023” agenda item with these words.
36.2 million euros in the administrative budget and 15.2 million euros in the property budget come together.
In comparison: The previous record budget was 44.1 million euros in 2017,
Mayor Falk Sluyterman: "We're not expecting anything that could surprise us"
"We're not expecting anything new or anything that might surprise us," Sluyterman said, listing the middle school redevelopment, city housing redevelopment, the ladder to heaven, and the ice rink.
The approach is realistic.
If, contrary to expectations, higher income from trade tax were achieved, this could be used to reduce debt.
Werner Hefele then brought unexpectedly positive news: the city treasurer had estimated 9.5 million euros for the income from trade tax - and also counted on this in the budget.
Just last week, a phone call with a Schongau company revealed that an additional three million euros could be expected.
Michael Eberle (CSU) warns that the budget statutes have to be adjusted
However, these were not included in the current budget statute, which Michael Eberle warned: "We can't make decisions based on old knowledge," said the CSU city councilor, the current development must be reflected in the budget.
Only eight city councilors were of this opinion, while 15 were against.
"If it develops like this, a smaller withdrawal from the reserves will be necessary," says Hefele.
The city treasurer had already calculated carefully in previous years, but in the end around 2.3 million euros were not needed in 2022.
The city does not have much from the trade tax revenue anyway: With the assessment rate of 54, a district levy of around 10.5 million euros is calculated for 2023.
Every cent could be used here - the personnel costs alone result in additional costs of 850,000 euros compared to 2022.
This year, a total of 8.9 million euros will be due for personnel expenses.
Personnel expenses too high?
Hans Rehbehn doubts.
Personnel expenses appeared to Hans Rehbehn (CSU) to be significantly too high.
That will be checked, promised manager Bettina Schade.
In addition, the municipal auditing association was commissioned to carry out a job evaluation, as Eberle had suggested.
The result will be presented to the City Council.
Total costs of 22.5 million euros are estimated for the general refurbishment of the middle school by 2026, with almost 14 million euros in grants expected.
Sonnengraben (around 700,000), Himmelsleiter (495,000) including paths and lighting (1.1 million euros) are just as much part of the property budget (funding amount of 60 percent) as all-day care for primary school children in the Köhlerstadel.
1.75 million euros are earmarked for this (funding expected to be 50 percent).
The roof renovation of the ice stadium is in the beginning this year (1.17 million euros, funding 90 percent), according to the current status, this will not happen until the summer of 2024, according to the city master builder Sebastian Dietrich.
Social housing construction: In Tal 8 to 12 things can start soon
As far as social housing is concerned, the renovation of the apartments in Im Tal 8 to 12 is planned with 4.4 million euros (funding amount around 30 percent).
The originally planned homeless shelter is off the table.
The road construction measures are also being reserved: Wilhelm-Köhler-Strasse is being built, other projects are being started, such as the development of Schongau-Nord, Peitinger Strasse and Amselstrasse.
The city's reserves could soon shrink to 1.5 million euros
All in all, the investments this year amount to 8.7 million euros, in 2024 it will be 12.6 million euros, and in the two following years 9.5 and 6.2 million euros respectively.
The construction investment volume up to 2026 is 37 million euros.
If you need the planned borrowing of four million euros, the debt will increase from 10.5 million euros (end of 2022) to 13.9 million euros by the end of 2023.
With a planned withdrawal of 3.5 million euros from the reserves, these will shrink to 1.5 million euros by the end of 2023.
The level of debt by the end of 2026 is expected to be as much as 24.4 million euros.
"Until further notice" do not decide anything that costs money, says Treasurer Werner Hefele
The repayments alone will then amount to 1.5 million euros annually in the long term, according to Hefele.
His recommendation: "Until further notice" the city council should not decide anything that costs money.
The budget statute was approved against the votes of Michael Eberle and Oliver Kellermann.
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