Sigmaringen in the financial crisis: millions of millions and increasing circular levy!

Sigmaringen in the financial crisis: millions of millions and increasing circular levy!

The district of Sigmaringen, once financially in the fast lane, is now faced with a massive debt crisis! The days when there were millions on the high edge are finally over. A huge cost block threatens: The new building of the Bertha-Benz School, which is now estimated at around 113 million euros, represents a historical mammoth task that forces the district into its knees.

For 2025 not only the opening of the school, but also a final payment of shocking 66.7 million euros! District Administrator Stefanie Bürkle speaks of "pain" and "great concern" and warns that the district has to reorganize itself. Savings at the staff in the district office are inevitable, while at the same time the Sigmaringen hospital urgently needs financial injections. The clinic's deficit was around 16 million euros in 2023, and although Bürkle predicts a halving for less than eight million euros for 2024, 6.3 million euros must still be made available in 2025.

Financial challenges through new laws

Another serious position that is burdening the district's finances, is the federal government law (BTHG). Financial director Peter Hotz warns of a BTHG-related additional effort of 9 million euros for 2025. "The law has an enormous impact on the cost development of integration assistance," said Hotz. The financial challenges bring him and the entire administration to the limits of their possibilities. In order to cope with the crisis, the authority plans to accept 53 million euros on loans, whereby 40 million euros were already planned for the payment of school.

In addition, the district levy is to increase by five percentage points to 36 percent, which would give the district around 13 million euros more in tax revenue. The parliamentary groups in the district council are now under pressure to advise the budget introduced by Bürkle and Hotz. The next public district meeting on December 16 will be decisive, and the increase in the circular levy will be a hot iron for many!