As of: February 29, 2024, 12:14 p.m
By: Alexander Kraus
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Press
Split
The focus of the budget consultations is the clinic.
© PHOTOPRESS THOMAS SEHR
With the new budget draft, the district hospital's financial crisis appears to have been averted.
However, the increasing district levy poses new challenges for the communities.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen - The preparatory work has been done: During the budget discussions for 2024, the district committee unanimously approved the draft that treasurer Rainer Knapp presented in the meeting room of the district office.
The determination of the district levy assessment rate was eagerly awaited.
It ultimately ended up at the proposed 55 percentage points – five points above the value from 2023. The municipalities will therefore pay 70.68 million euros to the district.
The district council will give its final approval to the budget on March 20th.
This financial outlay would secure the financing of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen District Hospital's deficit.
Frank Niederbühl was able to breathe a sigh of relief: “This is a positive signal that the district and the municipalities support the clinic in this way.” In addition, the managing director of the clinic was pleased that the district and municipalities accept their responsibility to ensure patient care and maintaining jobs.
The hospital recently got into financial difficulties (we reported) - the annual loss in 2023 was around 12 million euros, Niederbühl calculated.
In order to save the building, the supervisory board had requested compensation for the operating cost deficit of 7.6 million euros.
The district committee largely agreed to the request, but the district can only contribute 6 million euros - otherwise the levy would climb even higher.
District Administrator Anton Speer (Free Voters) commented on the authority's approach as follows: “That would last until March 2025.” Niederbühl confirmed that this would at least cause “no problem in the current year” for his house.
The district administrator expects a change for the better in autumn 2024.
Nevertheless, this year the hospital will receive further aid from the district in addition to the operating subsidy.
The committee granted investment cost support of 4.64 million euros, plus a repayment subsidy of 2.5 million euros.
Speer was proud that all 22 communities stand behind the district hospital despite the pressures.
Also Dr.
Michael Rapp (CSU) made a plea for the hospital.
“That’s when you see how important this house is for us,” he said, praising both the medical staff and the “blessed work” of the administration.
However, it is an “absurdity that citizens have to pay for medical care with their tax money”.
District Treasurer Knapp had begun his budget presentation and spoke of the work “under difficult conditions”, and the “underfunding of the clinic” in particular had caused him problems.
Dr.
Stephan Thiel (Greens) wanted to spread hope and pointed out reforms.
As part of the Transparency Act, 7 billion euros would be available.
In purely mathematical terms, there should be 3 million euros left for the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Clinic, said Thiel.
Niederbühl grimaced.
“I suffer physical pain!” Because his house was left with “0.0 euros,” he lamented.
For legal reasons, the clinic does not benefit from the liquidity-supporting effects.
Thiel raised another promising point.
The so-called transformation fund would have 50 billion euros available over the next ten years.
Here too, Niederbühl shook his head.
“The fund doesn’t exist yet.” He doubts whether the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Clinic is involved in it or benefits from it.
The transformation fund is probably more about structural adjustments.
“We are worried that the fund will not help us,” concluded the clinic’s managing director.