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District Administrator Thomas Will speaks of an important signal
The Darmstadt Regional Council has approved the amendment to the 2026 budget for the Groß-Gerau district. The corresponding letter has now been received by the district council.
District Administrator Thomas Will considers the early positive decision an "important signal." In financially difficult times, the approval primarily means legal certainty and the end of the provisional budget management.
High costs due to deficit
The county's financial situation remains strained. As previously reported, many municipalities are struggling with significant deficits. The regional council assessed the county's financial capacity as "significantly limited.".
The budget shows a deficit of approximately 24 million euros in its ordinary results. Accordingly, the approval notice is subject to extensive conditions, the details of which the administration must now address.
The district administrator highlighted the positive fact that, in close coordination with the regional council and the state of Hesse, an approvable budget could be drawn up at all. Furthermore, approximately 30 million euros in loans were approved. This will allow important investments, particularly in the education sector, to continue.
Structural underfunding remains a challenge
Will stated that the strained financial situation of districts, cities, and municipalities is dramatic in many places. The future of municipal finances was the central focus of the district's New Year's reception. It is no longer a matter of individual cost-cutting measures, but rather a structural underfunding of local authorities.
When districts and cities regularly reach their limits in providing essential public services, trust in state structures also suffers. The Groß-Gerau district is therefore an active member of the "Dignity of Cities" alliance and is also involved in discussions at the federal level. According to the district administrator, fundamental legal frameworks must be created, primarily at the federal level, to sustainably improve the situation.
(DISTRICT OF GROSS-GERAU – RED/PSKGG)
