Waldshut district: rising circular levy - who bears the loads?

Waldshut district: rising circular levy - who bears the loads?

In the district policy of the Waldshut district, a big turn is imminent! In view of stagnating and even falling tax revenue, the district plans to ask the 32 cities and municipalities more. The budget planning for 2025 provides for a drastic increase in the circular levy by 2.7 percent. District Administrator Martin Kistler with his budget speech has given the starting signal for budget advice, which will begin in the committees of the district council in the coming days.

The decisive committee meetings will take place on November 12th in the youth welfare committee, on November 19 in the Health, Nursing and Social Affairs Committee, on November 20 in the technology, environment and transport committee and on November 27th in the administration, finance, education. The district levy represents the most important source of income in the district and is expected to bring around 92 million euros this year. The biggest payers are the cities of Waldshut-Tiengen and Bad Säckingen.

growing financial challenges

The income expectations for 2025 could exceed the 100 million euro limit, while the total volume of the budget increases to around 350 million euros. District Administrator Kistler leads the increasing social expenditure as the main reason for the growing financial needs. Despite a lifting rate of 32.7 percent above the national average, the circular levy per inhabitant is 558 euros below the average of other circles, where it can be up to 650 euros.

Kistler appeals to the district councils to support the higher district levy and warns of the challenges that federal and state politics imposes on the municipalities. He emphasizes the need for a common procedure: "The municipalities and the counties must not be divided apart, but must carry the loads together and continuously fight for improvements." The situation is serious and Kistler demands that the district's voice are heard in the political arena.