As of: March 27, 2024, 7:08 p.m
By: Regine Glöckner
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The 2024 budget for the Unterallgäu district was recently approved.
© Glöckner
The lecture by treasurer Sebastian Seefried, the speech by district administrator Alex Eder (FW) and the budget speeches from the parliamentary groups on this year's budget had roughly the same “background noise”.
We are happy and grateful that it was possible to draw up a solid budget and that the district levy was reduced by 1.5 percentage points, which enabled the district levy to remain stable at a rate of 44.9 percent.
As in recent years, the big items are human resources, social affairs, youth welfare and the immigration office, with an increasing trend that people are thinking about.
And inpatient health care, for which the amount will be 9.3 million euros in 2024 and 13.6 million euros will be spent with hospital surcharges, as well as schools and education in general are worth a lot to the district council.
Unterallgäu district: Budget in a dry place - stability and good cooperation
The district administrator also pointed out how massive federal and state political decisions had a financial impact on local authorities and also mentioned the “hospital billion”, which placed a lot of burden on the local level.
He described the district's forward-looking actions in matters of mobility, energy and climate as a strong achievement.
Eder emphasized the value of democratic conditions in the country, thanked everyone for the good cooperation and was generally very confident in his opening speech.
In addition to the “stable budget”, Christine Vogginger (CSU) praised the clinic network and the establishment of the nursing base.
And above all, as a “great moment between administration and politics” the creation of the MUT mobility project concept, which is now obsolete due to the loss of subsidies.
JWU spokesman Christian Seeberger expressed himself similarly favorably with regard to the existing 4.5 million euro reserves and the declared adherence to the debt relief concept.
Budget of the Unterallgäu district 2024 approved - climate and social issues
On behalf of the Free Voters, Reinhold Bäßler drew attention to the war in Ukraine and its consequences for security of supply and the district energy company “driven” by his group.
He also addressed the increase in social costs between 2021 and 2024 from 29 to 46 million euros as well as the situation in the district retirement homes and clinics, with regard to the shortage of workers and financing, and referred with some concern to the planned withdrawal of reserves amounting to 700,000 euros.
Open wishes
Green parliamentary group spokeswoman Lisa Steber basically agreed with Eder's statements, but also had other wishes in her luggage: the implementation of the climate change study from 2019, better public transport frequency, but above all "the staffing of the care base, which, despite considerable funding, is currently only have a full-time job.”
Her group also considers positions for integration coordination and guidance to be desirable - with a view to other local authorities where these already exist.
Also to support the economy and care, where the labor shortage is high.
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Education and Bavarian politics
On behalf of the SPD/FDP, Roland Ahne, in addition to thanking and praising the budget holders, put his finger in a few wounds: He would have liked to have avoided dipping into reserves and complained that the Free State was keeping the municipalities short: 1.8 billion euros would be added to the pot the key allocations were withdrawn this year.
He also called for the Free State to contribute more to the personnel costs for the Ottobeuren high school and the secondary school.
Given the average operating cost deficit of Bavarian clinics of 4.6 million euros per year, it is pleasing that “we have not yet had to co-finance this”.
Nevertheless, overall hospital financing would remain “a lottery game”.
Ahne praised the “relatively low” level of debt.
Between ideology and moralism
At the beginning of his speech, AfD spokesman Wolfgang Reitinger broadly agreed with the speeches, praise and concerns that had been expressed up to that point.
He then launched into a general political attack on the topic of climate protection with terms such as “ideology-driven politics” and “end-time fatalism”.
He also criticized “cultural projects that undermine morale”.
Meanwhile, a small demonstration group of meeting participants, led by ÖDP/Citizens for the Environment chairwoman Rosina Rottmann-Börner, suddenly positioned themselves at the exit of the hall with a poster that read “Never again is now”.
As a result, Vogginger wanted to submit a point of order, Reitinger switched to abortion rights and the district administrator tried to pacify the situation.
More and more district council members joined the demo group.
“You are a disgrace for the district,” said the AfD from the plenary session.
By reminding people to respect and adhere to the democratic rules of the game, Eder calmed the situation.
Praise for great civic engagement
During her budget speech that immediately followed, demo leader Rottmann-Börner thanked people for the support, explained that she “wanted to bear the consequences” of her appearance and pleaded for diversity.
Then, in addition to similar comments regarding integration, she mentioned above all the voluntary commitment of citizens in the district.
She called for the retention of “voluntary services” such as children’s education or the popular “sports honors”.
Communities in view
Otto Göppel (CSU) made a short statement as representative of the board of the Bavarian Municipal Council and therefore the mayor.
During the budget discussions, the question arose as to whether the district would continue to finance investments through the district levy in the future.
And he asked that the district council members keep an eye on the very different situations of the 52 municipalities.
The 2024 budget was then passed unanimously.
The financial plan for the years 2025 to 2027, including the investment program on which it is based, was passed in a separate step, against the votes of the four AfD district councilors.
As treasurer Seefried explained, the only “formality” was a subsequent but unanimous decision on over-planned expenditure in the previous agenda item “Changes in the 2023 financial year”, which could, however, be covered by additional revenue and reduced expenditure.
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