In the course of the debate on the budget, district treasurer Norbert Merk announced that the garbage fees in the Weilheim-Schongau district will increase "drastically" in the coming year.
There was talk of up to 70 percent more.
District
– No questions were asked about the reasons after the chamberlain's presentation.
But later rumors surfaced.
In the past few years, it was said that the Erbenschwanger recycling and waste disposal company (EVA) had failed to set aside provisions for facilities that had already been written off.
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Massive increase in garbage fees: failed to accrue at the EVA?
It sounds complicated, but it's actually not that difficult.
An example: You buy a car.
After five years, the installments are paid off and you then own the car completely.
In the case of companies, the car is then also written off for tax purposes.
Now you are faced with the decision of either buying a new car or continuing to use the old one, which is still doing its job without complaint.
If you decide on variant 2, it is not only more ecological, you can also save the amount that you have previously spent on the installment.
Then a possible new investment will be much easier in a few years.
The accusation made against the EVA is that nothing was left on the high edge, although it was clear that the systems would have to be renewed in a few years.
That is the reason why the garbage fees, which are currently being recalculated, would rise so surprisingly and massively.
The deputy treasurer of the district, Matthias Brugger, rejects these representations.
“The fact is that some of the systems have actually been written off for a few years (around five).
However, they are in a condition that makes continued operation seem more economical and ecological than replacing them," he replied to a corresponding query from the local newspaper.
(The local newspapers in the Weilheim-Schongau district are represented on Instagram under “merkur_wm_sog”.)
Energy transition, expansion of energy self-sufficiency and personnel costs cause increases in fees
In Brugger's opinion, provisions for the fact that systems will have to be replaced in the foreseeable future are not possible in view of the Bavarian municipal tax law.
"Otherwise, the fee payer would be asked to pay twice - once through the ongoing depreciation and then through the additional provision for future investments," says Brugger.
Responding to the comment that the fee payers have not paid anything for the depreciation of the existing systems for five years, so there was de facto no double taxation, Brugger replies: "According to tax law, an investment provision is not permissible."
The fee increases that are in the room also have other reasons: there are the energy transition and the expansion of energy self-sufficiency, according to Brugger.
In addition, there would be personnel costs - the currently ongoing collective bargaining dispute in the public sector will also leave its mark on EVA's personnel expenses.
It cannot be ruled out that new requirements in waste and environmental legislation will make further investments necessary.
All of this will add up to significant additional costs.
“During the last fee calculation, care was taken to ensure that excess fees were reduced.
The calculation is based on the years 2017-2020, years that certainly do not reflect the actual developments caused by the corona crisis and the Ukraine war even approximately correctly," the deputy district treasurer continued.
It is therefore not surprising that after decades of fee stability, the fees will now increase, not least against the background of the global crises.
(All news and stories from our district can also be found on our Facebook page.)
Massive increase in garbage fees: How high is not yet clear
According to Matthias Brugger, it is not possible to say with certainty how high the increase in fees will ultimately be.
"We are currently checking the numbers and recalculating." At the end of the year it would be clear how deep the citizens would have to dig into their pockets.
In view of the inflation and the generally rising costs, a massive increase in garbage fees would pose major problems for a number of the district's citizens.
A topic that EVA and the district office are already considering: “Of course, there are considerations as to how the costs for the fee payers can be kept within limits overall, despite the goal of maintaining disposal security.
However, it is still too early to consider whether a social hardship regulation will be necessary,” Brugger continued.
The political debate about garbage fees is also likely to gain momentum in the coming months.
Because there are different ways in the different districts to pass on the costs of waste disposal to the citizens.
In the Weilheim-Schongau district, for example, there is a basic fee that covers around 50 percent of the costs incurred.
This makes the calculation much easier for the EVA, because you can estimate relatively precisely how much money will come in each year.
In the neighboring district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen there is no basic fee.
Billed per ton.
It's a lot more expensive per tonne than in our district.
But there is also a significantly higher incentive to save waste.
Because every ton that is used less saves the citizen money.
By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Schongau newsletter.
And in our Weilheim-Penzberg newsletter.