In its last meeting before the summer break, the council of the municipality of Gersheim was able to approve the budget for the current year. Necessary adjustments had repeatedly delayed the approval of the budget.
After two years of the corona crisis, the current budget of the municipality of Gersheim has been shaped by the war in Ukraine and the associated energy crisis. Rising energy costs, increasing construction costs, supply bottlenecks, and higher interest rates also affect the municipal budget – any cost increases were attempted to be included in the budget accordingly – yet in the end, it remains a look into a crystal ball.
In his speech, Mayor Michael Clivot addressed the framework conditions of this year's budget plan: “Through many efforts, we have once again managed to present an approvable budget. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult, and the endeavor is slowly but surely like squaring the circle. Anyone who takes a look at the calendar will notice that, compared to previous years, we are quite late in deciding on the budget. This is certainly due to the fact that it took some time for us to make the necessary changes to the expenditures in such a way that an approvable budget was achieved.”
It is still worth mentioning that the municipality has a balanced budget as a result of ongoing administrative activities – that is, excluding the financial result.
Thus, the financial framework conditions for the municipality have not changed, and the repayment obligations set by the Saarland Pact paint a rather bleak picture for the future.
The main reason remains the fundamental financial resources of the municipalities in Saarland. Since the report on municipal financial equalization, it has been known that the municipality of Gersheim has received too little from an already insufficiently funded pool for decades, measured against its needs. Therefore, not only is too little money flowing overall into the everyday infrastructure for the people in our federal state, but the municipality of Gersheim has also been inadequately considered for years due to relaxed criteria, which is partly a reason for the current debt situation. The Saarland Pact and the associated conditions further exacerbate this situation and are not feasible in the medium term.
At the same time, the mayor made it clear that the municipality of Gersheim will not further increase fees and taxes. “On the one hand, we would continue to burden those who have had to bear the measures of recent years but still remained loyal to our municipality. On the other hand, we would cause significant damage to our attractiveness initiative with the designation of new residential areas, the expansion of broadband supply, or investments in schools and kindergartens,” said Mayor Clivot.
For the current budget, the mayor has designated three areas where no cuts are to be made: schools, daycares, and the fire department.
The municipality primarily invests in schools (approx. €636,000), both in the buildings and further in digitalization, in kindergartens (€718,000), for example in the expansion of the daycare center in Rubenheim. In many cases also with funding. Furthermore, funds flow into equipment, driver's licenses, and materials to ensure the operational capability of the 10 fire districts of our volunteer fire department.
Thanks to various funding programs, the municipality can invest a total of 1.9 million euros in its 11 districts and thus further contribute to increasing their attractiveness.
Mayor Michael Clivot continues: "All of this is contained in this budget. We are making the best of a difficult situation and looking ahead. We want to keep up with the times and become even more attractive. For our population, for all those seeking a new home, for people who want to escape everyday life with us, and for businesses and companies that want to offer their employees modern workplaces in a green environment without being left behind."
In conclusion, Mayor Clivot thanked the employees of the administration and the factions of the municipal council for the preparation of the budget, with special mention of the treasurer of the municipality of Gersheim, Mr. Hans-Werner Nagel, who will retire at the end of 2022 after 48 years of service to the community.
