Enzkreis: Record circuit levy is burdening citizens-what now?

Enzkreis: Record circuit levy is burdening citizens-what now?

alarm mood in the Enzkreis! The district levy shoots at a historic high of 34.2 percent - this means a load of 605 euros per capita for the citizens! This drastic increase is the highest in the 52-year history of the district and causes excitement and worries about the financial future.

On Monday the budget was presented in the district council in 2025, and District Administrator Bastian Rosenau warns: "Is the Enzkreis broke in two years?" In his speech at the Pforzheim district office, he demanded financial relief from the federal government to manage the main cost drivers such as clinics and social expenses. The situation is critical, because the social spending formally explode - in 2025 alone, 182 million euros were planned, 26 million more than 2024! A "further like this" is simply impossible, says treasurer Frank Stephan.

critical budget and rising costs

The numbers are alarming: the household exceeds the 400 million euro mark for the first time and is not balanced for the fifth time in a row. The transfer benefits in the social area are the main cost driver, which has increased by more than 60 million euros in the past three years. "The social spending put up the air to public budgets," warns Stephan. Citizens must now bear the consequences, because the circular levy is raised to 34.2 percent, which means that every citizen has to pay more - from 531 euros to 605 euros!

In order to fix the financial imbalance, the administration has developed a stroke list of four million euros and is planning a borrowing of 11.7 million euros. But the procedure encounters resistance in the district council. District Councilor Günter Bächle described the situation as "schizophrenic" and received criticism for this. The budget is to be adopted on December 16, while the concerns about the financial stability of the Enzkreis are growing.