As of: February 15, 2024, 4:00 p.m
By: Lea Warmedinger
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The administration and the finance committee of the Isen market have spent every cent for the 2024 budget. (Symbolic image) © Oliver Berg
The Isen market has cut and eliminated a lot in the budget for 2024.
But that wasn't enough for Green councilors Lena and Florian Geiger: they voted against it.
Isen – “Many decisions were made with a heavy heart,” said Isen’s mayor Irmgard Hibler when presenting the budget for 2024 at the market town council meeting.
As Sandra Steinkirchner from the financial administration explained to the councils, the entire expenditure in the administrative budget for 2024 and also in the plan for the years 2025 to 2027 was reduced by ten percent across the board.
And all expenses that were not absolutely necessary were consistently eliminated.
“One of the largest items that we have reduced by 2027 is external water remediation,” explained Steinkirchner.
However, the renovation will continue.
The rents and leases for the multi-purpose hall, the leisure center, the teachers' residence and the clubhouse in Burgrain were increased.
Accordingly, more should end up in the municipal coffers.
On the other hand, income from kindergarten fees is falling because the fee increase has been less significant.
The volume for the overall budget is 32.6 million (million) euros – around 800,000 euros less than in the previous year.
The main sources of income in the administrative budget are income tax with almost 4.7 million euros and trade tax with 2.2 million euros, which, according to Hibler, should be calculated with caution this year.
When it comes to expenses, the district levy (4 million euros), personnel expenses (3.1 million euros) and operating expenses (2.7 million euros) make up the most.
A loan of EUR 6.8 million is planned to finance the investments.
The other major items in the asset budget are grants and property sales.
The expenditure includes the construction work amounting to a good 7 million euros for the school and the fire station as well as the civil engineering work amounting to almost 4 million euros, of which 2.4 million euros are planned for the pipeline network.
“There is a lot of investment in wastewater and water,” said Steinkirchner.
At the end of 2023, the debt level was 14.5 million euros, and at the end of 2027 it is expected to be 25.3 million euros.
Financial planning until 2027 is heavily influenced by school renovations, and the level of debt is rising accordingly.
In order to balance the administrative budget, transfers from the assets to the administrative budget are necessary between 2025 and 2027.
“We have not yet used enough opportunities to save more and generate more income,” criticized Green Party councilor and finance committee member Lena Geiger with regard to suggestions from the local authority supervisory authority.
She pointed out a property tax increase, for example.
“I am aware that we are burdening people with this, but we are responsible for the financial situation.” She also has the feeling that the argument that there is not enough money is generally used in the market town council as an excuse for projects not be implemented.
“We don’t want to go beyond the district level when it comes to assessment rates,” said Hibler.
“That would be a wrong signal,” agreed Martin Jell with the mayor.
Other councils also shared this view.
The majority of the committee approved the budget.