Citizens' initiative hands over petition at Riedstadt town hall – the issue will be discussed in the city council on October 1st
more than 6,000 signatures against the increase in property tax B to Riedstadt Town Hall on Monday, September 14. A ten-member delegation presented the petition to City Council Chairman Guido Funk and Mayor Marcus Kretschmann. The city confirmed the handover and the number of signatures exceeding 6,000.
The background to this is the increase in the property tax rate (Grundsteuer B) from 1,105 to 1,600 points. The city council approved the budget and the corresponding tax rate ordinance on June 25th with 19 votes in favor and 11 against. The new tax rate applies retroactively to January 1, 2026.
Citizens' initiative demands lower tax rate
At the handover, initiator Elfi Korbmann pointed to the high financial burden on residents, from the perspective of the citizens' initiative. The petition calls, among other things, for a reduction in the property tax rate and other measures to consolidate the city budget.
Mayor Marcus Kretschmann stated that the city takes the petition seriously. At the same time, he pointed to the municipality's strained financial situation. Unlike other cities and towns, Riedstadt can no longer draw on corresponding reserves, Kretschmann explained at the meeting.
Discussion about potential savings
In the ensuing discussion, the citizens' initiative raised various proposals for potential cost savings. Among the items criticized or questioned were the purchase of mobile vehicle barriers, the "From Gray to Green" project in Wolfskehlen, the planned cycle path between Leeheim and Geinsheim, and the planned central fire station.
Kretschmann pointed to subsidies or other funding sources for several of these projects. The "From Gray to Green" project is 90 percent federally funded, while the bike path is entirely a project of the state of Hesse. The mobile vehicle barriers are also based on a resolution passed by the city council. Regarding the central fire station, the mayor stated that the administration sees no suitable, more cost-effective alternative; the investment will be handled through the general budget and, according to him, will have no impact on property tax B.
City council chairman Guido Funk pointed out that decisions on cost savings also require political majorities in the city council.
The petition will be presented to the city parliament on October 1st
According to the city, two demands of the citizens' initiative have already been addressed. The petition is scheduled to be on the agenda of the next city council meeting on October 1st . The city councilors have also been provided with the speech given at the petition handover, a letter from the citizens' initiative to the political groups, and a motion drafted by the initiative.
This means the city council will once again address the controversial increase in property tax B.
(RIEDSTADT – RED/PSR)
Featured image: City council chairman Guido Funk and Mayor Marcus Kretschmann received a binder containing the collected signatures of the petition from Elfi Korbmann and Nicole Fischer (from left). Photo: City of Riedstadt
