Financial crisis in Lower Saxony: Municipalities call for urgent solutions!

Financial crisis in Lower Saxony: Municipalities call for urgent solutions!

Ammerland, Deutschland - The financial needs in Lower Saxony are dramatically top, while the municipalities are preparing for alarming debt development. According to a report by lkclp.de it is expected that the debt of the counties and independent cities in Oldenburger Land will increase to over 1.7 billion euros. This is an alarming increase compared to the 811 million euros in 2023. Leading politicians in the region are now urgently demanding measures from the country to slow down this threatening development.

According to Stephan Siefken, the district administrator of the Wesermarsch district, the municipalities suffer from the financial consequences of political promises that have not been adequately financed. The cost of social transfer services and other mandatory tasks put a great impact on the households of the municipalities. In particular, the increasing expenditure in youth welfare, childcare and the accommodation of refugees add up enormous financial burdens. The situation in the district of Cloppenburg is particularly critical, where the debt rose significantly within a short time, from 8.8 million euros in 2014 to shocking 60 million euros.

structural problems and inequalities in financial equalization

The critical situation forces the municipalities to rethink the offer of voluntary services that support numerous social projects and clubs. District Administrator Johann Wimberg warns of the "financial catastrophe" that threatens if the state budget is not distributed more fairly. The district councilors and mayors of the region exhort the country to work quickly for a solution before it is too late.