As of: March 12, 2024, 5:57 p.m
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A guided tour by interested citizens of the grounds of the state reception center for refugees in Stendal.
© Heiko Rebsch/dpa
In Stendal, a new initial reception for asylum seekers is being built in a former barracks.
Construction will be more expensive than originally expected.
The taxpayers' association criticizes the planning.
Stendal/Magdeburg - The new state initial reception for asylum seekers in Stendal is scheduled to partially go into operation from May - and will end up being significantly more expensive than expected.
“According to current estimates, the conversion of the former border troop barracks should be completed by the end of 2025 and will cost at least 56.8 million euros,” said a spokesman for the Ministry of Finance when asked on Tuesday.
The 2018 calculations showed total costs of 29.8 million euros.
The day before, the Taxpayers' Association had again criticized the high costs and the repeatedly delayed completion.
In addition, an expensive interim solution would have to be financed, and other properties would still have to be rented.
The Ministry of Finance cited, among other things, changed user requirements as well as later recognized damage to the building structure, which had been vacant for years, and static problems as the reasons for the increased costs.
There have also been unforeseen construction price increases since 2020 due to the corona crisis, the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis as well as delivery bottlenecks, tariff increases and a shortage of skilled workers.
According to the ministry, it is unclear whether the 56.8 million euros will be enough.
“As not all trades have been put out to tender yet, the final construction costs have not yet been determined,” explained the ministry spokesman.
The taxpayers' association explained that the risk budget from tax money of around 1.6 million euros would probably also be needed.
That would be a total of almost 60 million euros and therefore around twice as high costs as expected at the start of construction in 2018/2019.
From May onwards, up to 600 people can be accommodated in the new initial reception center for asylum seekers, and when it is completed this could be up to 1,000.
The residents are temporarily provided with food in a lightweight hall with a kitchen area.
Offices are initially located in a container building.
dpa