Taxpayer Association: 75 years as the voice of the citizens and financial myths!

Taxpayer Association: 75 years as the voice of the citizens and financial myths!

In the city of Weimar, an upcoming construction of bicycle stands ensures violent discussions and criticism. The taxpayer association recently made the public aware of a special case that causes a stir in the city administration. It is about a cost of 260,000 euros for the development of a bicycle park system. Such expenses are asking questions regarding the efficiency of urban financial planning.

The taxpayer association, a non -profit association that is committed to the interests of taxpayers, has dealt with this topic. President Reiner Holznagel points out that the association is not only a discussion platform, but is also actively involved in sample processes in order to protect the rights of citizens. This procedure enables the association to set political statements on important questions such as property tax and to inform the public.

dispute over bicycle stands in Weimar

The amount of the output for the bicycle stand caused displeasure in Weimar. Critics complain that such investments take place in an overpriced framework, which is not acceptable in times of scarce health insurers. This opinion is supported by a variety of citizens' opinions that are expressed on the Internet. In the introduction, it was emphasized that the taxpayers' association not only demands more cheaply planning, but also makes it transparent how public funds are dealt with.

Holznagel describes the taxpayers' association as a representative of the interests that acts as a partner of the administration, even if the relationships between the association and the city of Weimar are currently tense. This area of tension between citizens' interests and urban decisions remains a challenge for those responsible on site.

role of the taxpayers' association

The taxpayer association does not see itself as a state examination center, but as a critical companion of public finance decisions. This also includes discussions about funding. Holznagel emphasizes that citizens often misunderstand that even 20 percent of local expenditure depends on significant funding from the federal or EU. These funds belong to the taxpayers, regardless of where they come from. So it is also asked whether every decision may not have a private model in the municipal framework.

"We approach the matter differently," says Holznagel. The consideration of whether there would have been cheaper alternatives is a central point in a discussion that revolves around the expenses of the city of Weimar. The taxpayers' association wants to offer food for thought in order to promote more transparency and broad participation of citizens so that they do not feel that they are not taken into account from political decisions.

It remains to be seen to what extent the city administration is responding to these statements and whether the discussions will lead to a re -evaluation of priorities in urban planning. The debate is symptomatic of a larger trend in Germany, in which expenses for public projects are increasingly being questioned. For further information on the background of this discussion, see the current report www.mdr.de .