Tax waste in Berlin: The black book reveals embarrassing examples

Tax waste in Berlin: The black book reveals embarrassing examples

Berlin. In the German capital there are once again sensational reports on the use of tax funds. The latest revelations in the federal taxpayers' federal government shed light on remarkable expenses, which many find unnecessary or even absurd. These examples from the recently published black book show how public funds are issued in Berlin and make citizens think about the efficiency of their administrations.

One of the latest misinvestments comes from the Lichtenberg district, where a cookbook entitled "Brot remains Deluxe - Lichtenberg Sustainable & Gut" was published. This work illustrates with a total of 20 recipes on how to use old bread sensibly instead of throwing it away. The total costs for the surrender amounted to 11,263.12 euros, which corresponds to around eleven euros per copy. The taxpayers' association has questioned the meaningfulness of such projects and raises the question of whether this really belongs to the area of responsibility of the public sector.

Criticism of muesli and bread projects

Another example comes from the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district, which promoted a so-called “Dit is muesli” at the European Football Championship. A muesli creation was developed here, which comes up with the claim of sustainability. Costs for the muesli itself are not well known, but the expenses for the packaging design were 8,328.81 euros. The district also applied for 20,000 euros in funding from the sustainability program. Such measures are difficult for many citizens to understand, especially if the effective use of public funds is important to them.

The taxpayer association has also commented on the high costs for new bicycle repair stations. 20 stations were installed in May 2024 for a proud 130,000 euros. Many see a clear discrepancy here because similar devices are available on the Internet for only around 2000 euros. These huge costs raise questions regarding the efficiency of the procurement processes of the Berlin administration.

The Senate's repair bonus, which was equipped with 2.5 million euros, is not very well received in criticism. The taxpayers' association believes that it is not the responsibility of the state to subsidize such private repair costs. Those programs not only ensure additional bureaucracy, but could also burden the public perception of the administration.

Jobcenter advertising as an example of waste

Another criticized point is an advertising campaign by the Berlin job center, which started in January 2024. With a budget of over 191,000 euros, the new services and the digital processing of the citizens' benefit should be advertised. These expenses are considered exaggerated and unnecessary, since there are already many people who successfully strive for citizenship without this type of advertising.

Alexander Kraus, the head of the taxpayers' association in Berlin, concludes that the examples listed clearly illustrate the waste of tax funds. In view of the tense budget in the city, which requires savings in billions of bills, it is incomprehensible to many citizens why such projects are initiated at all.

The revelations about these expenses are not only in a sharp contrast to the demands for better housekeeping, but also raises questions about the priorities of the Berlin administration. While the taxpayers' association calls for information and rethinking in the use of public funds, it remains to be seen whether those responsible in politics will react to these concerns. More information about the impressions from the black book are at www.morgenpost.de available.