As of: January 29, 2024, 4:00 p.m
By: Andreas Baar
Comments
Press
Split
Casual group, serious topics: (from left) moderator Monika Uhl, Markus Bocksberger (second mayor and PM parliamentary group leader), Wolfgang Taffertshofer (second district administrator and BfL parliamentary group leader in the district council) and moderator Thomas Sendl.
© Andreas Baar
Penzberg - Ultimately, it's all about money.
This became clear at the New Year's meeting of the Penzberg Miteinander voters' group.
It was about the financial bottlenecks of the district and city.
The Weilheim-Schongau district and the city of Penzberg have one thing in common: both suffer from the strained budget situation.
The district's hospital GmbH is pushing it into the bad, and the municipality has to fill a hole of around 15 million euros in view of the lack of income and recent high investments.
Both require austerity measures.
This became clear last Sunday (January 28th) at the New Year's meeting of the Penzberg Miteinander (PM) voter group in the Bürgerbahnhof.
For this purpose, PM brought the second district administrator Wolfgang Taffertshofer (BfL, Obersöchering) on stage alongside their frontman and deputy mayor Markus Bocksberger.
Around 50 visitors attended the round, moderated by Monika Uhl and Thomas Sendl.
The scope is becoming narrow
Taffertshofer didn't even try to sugarcoat the district's situation: "Financial policy leeway is becoming extremely narrow." The district council has not yet approved this year's budget, but it is clear: "unpopular measures" need to be introduced.
This includes the district levy, which the district collects annually from its 34 municipalities and which is an important source of income.
This is already top in Bavaria at 54 percent. Maintaining this will be “impossible,” Taffertshofer made it clear - district treasurer Norbert Merk would like an increase to 56 percent, the district council has not yet made a decision.
Around 50 visitors came to the PM New Year's talk at the Bürgerbahnhof.
© Andreas Baar
“There is no money for further investments.”
Deputy District Administrator Wolfgang Taffertshofer
The deputy district administrator spoke plainly: “There is no money for further investments.” This also applies to the urgently needed expansion of the Penzberg high school, for which the district is responsible for the material costs.
A new building is “not feasible,” says Taffertshofer – there is a temporary container solution in the room.
Basically, he sees only one path for the district: “Reflect on mandatory tasks.
We have to limit ourselves.” Taffertshofer called it a “solid basic program” that Weilheim-Schongau had to offer.
“There will be some failures in the freestyle in the future.”
Put the brakes on spending
Saving is also PM local politician Bocksberger's motto for city politics.
The second mayor probably doesn't expect this year's budget before March, but: "It can't go on like this." Cities have to slow down on their spending.
However, the faction leader did not lean out of the window in terms of specific content.
He doesn't believe that cuts in club funding will "help us," but Penzberg now has to "limit himself to compulsory tasks," said Bocksberger, with a view to major projects such as the fire station and renovation or new construction of elementary and middle schools.
My news
Penzberg: Suddenly there was a loud noise and then the car door was damaged
Rail strike ends prematurely - but there are still disruptions in the Oberland too
New police chief wanted: Head Jan Pfeil leaves Penzberglesen
Creative feelings of home: Honor for amateur photographers in Penzberglesen
New home: Penzberg drone manufacturer EMT has landed at Rheinmetall
Foolish anticipation: Sindelsdorfer Garden are ready for the carnival reading
State Horticultural Show: Financial representation
The state horticultural show is a voluntary service.
The PM parliamentary group leader is still talking about support for the green mega-project among all parliamentary groups (“I would really like to have her”).
“If it is financially feasible,” he immediately qualified.
Austerity measures for youth work are annoying
Despite all the agreement about austerity measures, there is one thing that divides the district and the city: the fact that the district wants to withdraw from financing open youth work in 2025, which also affects the costs for the manager's position in the Penzberg youth center, is not well received in city politics.
All factions have already signed a letter of protest to the district councils.
While Deputy District Administrator Taffertshofer ("correction of responsibility") referred to the previously voluntary assumption of personnel costs, Deputy Mayor Bocksberger can "in any case" imagine that the city will then bear the costs - after all, it is an "important service “.