Darmstadt's mayor Benz warns of a loss of trust in politics
with a clear appeal to the federal and state governments on Thursday (May 15) 43rd General Assembly of the German Association of Cities concluded in Hanover "Together we are the city," delegates called for more financial flexibility, greater freedom to shape policy, and an expansion of digital administration.
also Mayor Hanno Benz, Deputy Mayor Barbara Akdeniz, City Treasurer André Schellenberg, Environment Officer Michael Kolmer and Mobility Officer Paul Georg Wandrey attended the meeting.
“Local communities are where people directly experience politics,” said Mayor Hanno Benz. “When infrastructure deteriorates, budget cuts affect daily life, and innovations fail to materialize, this is perceived as political failure – and therefore also as a crisis of democracy.”
Record deficits threaten the ability of local authorities to act
The declaration adopted by the German Association of Cities to municipalities to provide significantly more financial support. This comes in response to the record deficit of €25 billionrecorded by municipalities nationwide in 2024. Darmstadt is also affected: its current budget deficit stands at €36 million.
Benz particularly criticized the imbalance between responsibilities and revenues:
"Local authorities shoulder a quarter of all state services, but receive only one seventh of the revenue."
The general assembly also emphasized the central role of cities in digital transformation, climate protection and mobility, as well as in social services. To do justice to all of this, municipal action must less bureaucracy and more scope for decision-making be strengthened
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD)
