Red alarm level: Ludwigsburg district fights with record deficit!

Red alarm level: Ludwigsburg district fights with record deficit!

The financial situation in the Ludwigsburg district is becoming increasingly tense, which means serious consequences for the 39 cities and municipalities on site. With a budget volume of almost 1.2 billion euros, the district plans to borrow in the amount of 66 million euros, which is a record. District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier found clear words in his recent speech on the budget template and speaks of the "absolute lower limit of what is possible". The measures that are under discussion are crucial to improve the precarious situation of the municipalities.

In the speech on the presentation of the budget design, Allgaier underlined that in no way only the district as such, but also the individual cities and municipalities have to bear strong financial burdens. This problem not only arises from the current economic situation, but is also part of a structural problem. Allgaier referred to the principle of connexuality, which says that "who ordered, pays". These financial policy tensions could lead to the credibility of politics.

Budget Commission and austerity measures

In order to counteract the increased financial difficulties, the district has already set up a budget commission. This group, which includes external experts, is intended to find savings potential and assess voluntary tasks. "We did our homework," says Allgaier, but points out that the district budget depends heavily on decisions at federal and state levels. Local self -government could be seriously endangered without additional financial resources.

For 2025, the earnings budget expects a deficit of 45.6 million euros. A challenge is the clinics, which turn out to be great financial burden. Because there are risks because the development of hospital proceeds during the planning period is not finally foreseeable. In addition, there is an additional loss of income of 6 million euros due to the recently carried out census.

changes in the district levy

The planned borrowing, which is considered the highest in the history of the district, is a clarifying measure to finance a need of 69.8 million euros. "This external financing must remain a one -off exception," said Allgaier, adding that from 2026 to 2028 a further increase in the circular levy was inevitable.

public transport turns out to be an additional source of financial burdens. A net resource requirement of 57 million euros is required for 2025, which means an increase of 4.2 million euros compared to the previous year. The cost of 18.8 million euros has risen to 25.6 million euros, especially in bus traffic. In addition, the Germany ticket carries risks, since the funds of the federal and state governments are expected to not be sufficient to cover the costs.

An important item in the household is also the social budget, which with 530.1 million euros in transfer expenses is the largest block. The net subsidy requirement for this amounts to 253.8 million euros, with the majority of 107 million euros in the integration assistance for people with disabilities. Youth welfare also leads to significant burdens with 63 million euros.

The largest individual investment in the district budget 2025 is the expansion of the Gröninger Weg school, which is estimated at 16 million euros. In view of the increasing number of pupils, the special educational and advisory center has a significant space requirement, which is to be covered in the long term by a two-location solution.

The coming weeks are marked by intensive budget consultations in the district council. A final farewell to the budget is planned for December 20, 2024. This process will show how the financial challenges can be mastered and which strategies are ultimately chosen to navigate the district through the crisis.

For more information, see the current report www.ludwigsburg24.com .