Businesses push back against proposed city tax hikes
Spotlight on Local Businesses: Insights from the Bergische Industry and Chamber of Commerce Survey
In an intriguing recent development, the Bergische Industry and Chamber of Commerce (IHK) conducted a flash survey involving around 300 companies across Wuppertal, Solingen, and Remscheid, shedding light on their opinions regarding the municipal election.
Multiple themes emerged, with more than half of the participating businesses mentioning them. Expedited approval procedures and a service-oriented municipal approach were among the top demands, along with a stronger focus on inner city development. The urgent need for increased digitalization of business services in administration and the provision of more kindergarten places also garnered significant attention.
The results revealed a sense of business owners feeling underappreciated by local authorities, as crucial customers and employers. The relationship with municipal administration was generally met with caution, with only 3% finding it very good, 22% good, 39% satisfactory, and 15% inadequate. Twenty-two percent stated they had never interacted with the administration or couldn't evaluate its performance.
Interestingly, there was minimal variation in responses across different municipalities, except in Solingen, where negative handling in the city council was frequently cited. Local business owners demanded more constructive, issue-based collaboration for the city's benefit, eschewing destructive and personal disagreements.
The majority of responses came from medium-sized businesses with up to 50 employees, with half from the service sector, a quarter from industry, and the rest distributed among trade, transport, banks and insurance, and hospitality.
While the details of the survey remain undisclosed, common themes in such surveys typically revolve around digitalization, appreciation, and cooperation quality between businesses and local authorities. Expectations often include the application of digital tools for seamless service delivery, recognition, support, and a positive working relationship with municipal officials. The actual survey findings or a comprehensive report from the Bergische Industry and Chamber of Commerce will provide more specific insights.
Stay tuned for further developments and the evolution of these crucial discussions!
- The service sector and industry both highlighted the urgent need for increased digitalization of business services in administration, as revealed in the survey conducted by the Bergische Industry and Chamber of Commerce.
- In the Bergische Industry and Chamber of Commerce survey, the finance sector, including banks and insurance, expressed their concerns about the lack of appreciation felt by local businesses towards their role as employers and crucial customers in the municipalities of Wuppertal, Solingen, and Remscheid.
