In its meeting on March 28, 2023, the municipal council of the community of Mettlach adopted the budget for the year 2023. Like all budgets of the cities and municipalities in Saarland, the budget of the community of Mettlach is affected by the impacts of the Ukraine war, the general inflation that has been rising sharply since the beginning of 2022, and the associated price increases, including in the energy sector; and of course, it continues to be influenced by the framework conditions of the Saarland Pact. These circumstances also explain why the draft budget could only be submitted to the council at a relatively late date.
As part of the Saarland Pact, an annually increasing minimum repayment to reduce the existing overdrafts must be generated by 2065. For 2023, this amounts to around €179,000. In return, the municipality receives annual investment cost subsidies from the state amounting to approximately €188,000; and was able to transfer a total of around €9 million in overdrafts to the state.
The results budget, the presentation of expenses and revenues, ends with a negative result of – €4,492,898. In the investment plan, the municipality has investment expenditures amounting to approximately €9.9 million available; with budgeted revenues from grants, subsidies, and other cost contributions of about €5.18 million.
In his explanations during the meeting, Mayor Daniel Kiefer stated that in the planning of the results budget, they were only about €10,300 below the deficit limit. This was only possible because, due to a favorable standard development for the municipality of Mettlach, as prescribed by the state, more than €2.55 million in additional expenses or reduced income compared to the previous year were not included in the deficit calculation. Furthermore, the positive results from previous years facilitated the budget planning this year. Therefore, despite increased costs and a district levy raised by around €1.3 million compared to the previous year, it was possible to present an approvable budget without tax increases. In the context of the investment budget, Kiefer emphasized that it was particularly approvable because, with a net investment sum of about €4.8 million, special loans of about €3.77 million were not included in the calculation of the credit limit.
The following priorities were included in the Municipality of Mettlach's investment plan by resolution of the municipal council; or continued after budgeting in previous years:
Daycare Centers
In the construction of a new daycare center on Britter Street as a replacement for the "Kita Bahnhofstraße" in the Mettlach district, the calculated total costs have risen to €8.5 million due to a new calculation from the second half of 2022, compared to €4 million in 2020. Despite an increased funding amount of around €5.2 million and an additional special grant from the Ministry of the Interior of about €1.2 million, the municipality of Mettlach's own contribution has risen to €2.1 million instead of the initially planned €1.1 million. With an expenditure volume of approximately €5.33 million in 2023 alone, this project represents the largest part of the 2023 investment budget. It is pleasing that, despite the enormous price increases, the implementation of this project remains feasible for the municipality of Mettlach. The preparation of the land, which is a prerequisite for the new construction, commits an additional €410,000 of the investment budget.
Fire Departments
For the new construction of the Orscholz fire station, a total of €455,000 had already been budgeted in the previous two years. This year, a further €800,000 will be made available; for the coming year 2024, an additional €670,000 is planned as part of the investment financial planning. For the new fire engine in the district of Weiten, €262,500 is available, with a grant amount of €130,000. For the new tank fire engine of the Orscholz fire district, €150,000 is planned. The extension of the Weiten fire equipment house costs €25,000 in this area with 50% funding, and €10,500 is planned for the IT equipment of the fire districts. For the new siren at the Orscholz multipurpose hall, €20,000 is planned with funding of €10,850.
"Urban Redevelopment of Mettlach Town Center – Mettlacher Runde"
Since 2017, the "Masterplan Mettlacher Runde" has been addressing urban development for several years. A central element is the open space planning of public areas between the train station, Saar promenade, the town center, and the pedestrian zone in Mettlach. Significant funds have already been provided for this since 2018; approximately €1.28 million is also budgeted for continuing the project in 2023. The focus is on construction phase 03 Living-Planet-Square (€658,830), the facade renovation of building 201 (€234,750), and the facade and roof renovation of building 115 (€225,000). The municipality expects funding of more than 70% for these measures in total.
Development and final construction measures in the districts, road construction measures
For the year 2023, an additional €100,000 could be budgeted for the development measures of the "Auf der Plak" new development area in the Saarhölzbach district, following €150,000 already allocated the previous year. For the awarding of contracts in 2024, commitment appropriations amounting to €200,000 remain available for the completion of the project. Also planned for this year is the start of the final development of the Bohnengarten new development area in Bethingen with €110,000. For measures in Kapellenstraße in Wehingen, €200,000 is available, plus a commitment appropriation of €500,000 for the coming years. Significant additional amounts are planned for the following years here, also in the budgets of the waterworks and wastewater works.
Primary Schools
At the Langwies Primary School in Mettlach, €125,000 is budgeted for a new shading system in 2023, with an additional €40,000 for further operational equipment. Additional funding within the framework of the Digital Pact for primary schools provides a further €18,000 for this school and €4,500 for the Orscholz Primary School.
Town Hall and Municipal Depot Mettlach
A total of €90,000 is available for various measures for the administrative building in Mettlach, with the total scope of all planned measures currently estimated at €280,000, including subsidies amounting to €23,000. These measures include the construction of a new windbreak, new shading, new windows, and fire protection doors. For the depot, new acquisitions of a ride-on mower and a transporter are budgeted at a total of approximately €65,000.
Further investment measures
A variety of other measures are also to be implemented in the individual districts. For the barrier-free expansion of the bus shelters, €50,000 is available in 2023 with 90% funding, and grave field measures in the cemeteries are budgeted at €40,000. Approximately €110,000 is earmarked for measures at the Mettlach outdoor pool, including an insurance reimbursement of around €90,000 for the control system damaged in 2022. The expansion of the building at Moselstraße 1 in Orscholz into club rooms, with €231,000 and 90% funding, is also a significant part of the 2023 municipal investment budget.
The following key focus areas were set for the expenditure sector in the year 2023:
The budget for road maintenance across the entire municipal area could be approximately €825,000 this year.
compared to €400,000 in the previous year. For forest management including reforestation and young forest maintenance, €288,000 are available, and €60,000 are allocated for the continuation of the flood protection and heavy rainfall concept. The conversion of street lighting to LED will be continued in 2023 with around €160,000. Bridge renovations on municipal bridges will cost the municipality of Mettlach €90,000.
In the area of refugee accommodation, an additional expenditure of approximately €540,000 compared to 2022 is planned, with full coverage expected through cost reimbursements. For the district of Mettlach, €50,000 is budgeted for a cost-effectiveness and feasibility analysis, including a location concept for the further development of the pedestrian zone as a "city outlet."
The renovation of the toilet facilities at the Mettlach church costs 90,000 €, the roof and tower renovation of the Wehingen chapel is estimated at 80,000 € with a 90% subsidy. Measures for the building at Luxemburger Straße 15 in Weiten are planned with 160,000 €; the snack bar in Von-Boch-Liebig-Straße in Mettlach needs to be renovated for 37,000 €. Urgent renovation measures at the Mettlach play and sports hall require an expenditure of about 81,000 €; the moisture remediation at the
Kita Tünsdorf requires an amount of €60,000. The renovation of the roof of the outbuilding of the Weiten multipurpose hall costs €105,000, including the access path.
The renovation work (gatehouse roof) at Ziegelberg Castle in Mettlach requires €55,000. In the Orscholz district, necessary accompanying measures within the framework of the road renovation Cloefstraße / Moselstraße by the State Road Authority require a municipal share of €100,000.
Furthermore, the costs of various effort measures at the primary schools are estimated, such as the conversion of the Orscholz primary school to LED lighting (€30,000) and the painting of the corridors at the Mettlach primary school (€8,000).
Notable measures at the town hall include the costs of an IT security consultancy amounting to €40,000 as well as work on the balcony and in the wedding room (€25,000). The acquisition of new IT equipment for the registration office amounts to approximately €25,000, which became necessary due to a program change.
Various renovation measures at the municipal cemeteries and mortuaries are estimated to cost a total of around €85,000, while the development of the cycling traffic concept for both everyday and tourist cycling will require €30,000 in 2023.
The replacement of the windows and painting work at the Mettlach outdoor swimming pool will cost the municipality of Mettlach a total of €25,000 in 2023.
These are only the most important among a variety of measures that affect the expense area.
Although the planning framework allowed for slightly more flexibility compared to the previous year, it must be seen that the budget situation continues to be extremely tight. In this context, Mayor Kiefer expressed his gratitude for the constructive cooperation with the municipal council, which ultimately had to decide on the budget.
He also expressed words of thanks to the local mayors and local councils for their cooperation and the understanding shown that not all desired measures could be implemented.
