As of: March 6, 2024, 9:30 a.m
By: Volker Camehn
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The high debts in Sauerlach are causing concerns, among other things, for the treasury department in the town hall.
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Sauerlach's treasurer Josef Mayer would like to persuade the local councilors that the debt development does not continue as before.
A zero round is needed.
Sauerlach
- At first glance, it doesn't look so bad: in 2023, Sauerlach recorded six million euros in trade taxes, the administration had expected 4.9 million euros.
A stroke of luck, says Michael Hohenleitner (CSU).
However, there is no active location policy behind it.
In fact, the municipality's financial situation looks anything but rosy.
“The primary goal must be to ensure that the community’s debt does not continue to rise so rapidly,” demands treasurer Josef Mayer in the local council.
It would therefore be “very good” for the budget if there was “a zero round of borrowing in the coming years”.
This means above all: repayment of existing loans and concentration on “compulsory municipal tasks”.
Balancing the budget could be difficult
Action is necessary: the per capita debt will probably be around 3,000 euros in two years at the latest.
“If the municipality’s debt continues to rise so rapidly, it will soon no longer be possible to balance the budget in the future,” warns Mayer.
The financial planning until 2027 includes debts of 3.4 million euros (for 2025) and 4.9 million euros (2026).
The loan requirement this year is estimated at 5.1 million euros.
The total debt should then be around 26 million euros.
Against this background, your nerves are on edge.
The financial plan for the financial years 2023 to 2027 was approved by a majority of the local council (13:7), but the CSU representatives voted unanimously against it.
Parliamentary group leader Michael Hohenleitner even assumes 27.2 million euros in debt for 2027 and fears: “The room for maneuver is becoming smaller and smaller.” He accused Mayor Barbara Bogner (UBV) of inaction when it comes to commercial settlement: “That’s a matter for the boss!” And: “ If you haven't managed to bring about a corresponding development in 15 years in office, then I assume that there is a mentality here that doesn't give a damn," Hohenleitner shot at the head of the town hall.
Of the planned investments in the 2023 financial year, Hohenleitner calculated, only 3.46 million euros of 9.53 million euros were spent (of which 1.83 million were for the renovation of the town hall), i.e. just 36 percent - that is “new sad low”.
Instead, investments would be made in “pointless road construction work”.
Blockade is not a solution
The CSU was particularly annoyed that the planning costs for the high school were reduced from 700,000 to 100,000 euros.
“That's why the CSU will vote against the draft budget.” Barbara Bogner, surprised by the Union attack, in return accused the CSU of blocking and lacking a sense of responsibility: “The local council has the task of making the budget available!” Who is against the budget would be correct, so the necessary funds would not be made available.
This also applies to all other investments.
More commercial development needed
There was also criticism from the Social Democrats: Babak Afshar, who was not personally present at the meeting, had his party colleague Waltraud Specker read out a statement.
“As in recent years, I can only constantly emphasize increasing the revenue side,” Afshar demanded, among other things.
That means: more dynamism when it comes to commercial settlement.
“We were able to recognize in the main and finance committee that there are companies that would like to locate in Sauerlach.
Unfortunately, we often don't have the land to win these companies over to us." He therefore called for "a timely appointment for a meeting where we can discuss the designation of commercial space, changes to the assessment rate and the marketing of the attractive Sauerlach location."
Trade tax revenue of six million euros is also expected for 2024.