District Approves 2025 Budget With Record Deficit and Debt
The district's budget for 2025 has been approved with a significant deficit and new debt, despite an increase in the district surcharge. The budget, spanning 630 pages, passed with four abstentions and one negative vote from Neuenkirchen's Wilhelm Lindenberg.
The budget for 2025 shows a gap of 28.25 million euros, with the district surcharge raised to 55 percent. The deficit is expected to reach 13.7 million euros by the end of the budget year. The budget could be balanced this year by using the surplus reserve of 49.7 million euros, but future years may be tight.
The investment program for 2025 includes payments of 70.6 million euros, with debt increasing accordingly. By the end of 2028, the debt is projected to exceed 300 million euros, nearly doubling the current amount. The district has increased the subsidy for kindergarten facilities to 20.5 million euros by 2028, with an additional 6.4 million euros allocated this year. The FDP Kreistagsabgeordnete voted against the budget, stating 'We can't afford what we're deciding.' No information is available on which town in the Heidekreis will receive the largest share of the planned 68.6 million euros in school investments in 2025.
The 2025 budget of the district has been approved with a deficit of 28 million euros and new debt of 39 million euros. The budget's long-term sustainability and the allocation of school investment funds remain concerns.
