Enhance the city's financial administration needs to be addressed
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In the heart of Germany's industrial region, the city of Oberhausen is grappling with funding management issues, as highlighted by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) late last year. The city's inability to effectively manage and submit funding applications, particularly for the Urgent Program for Inner Cities and other initiatives, has resulted in missed opportunities and even the need to return funds in some cases.
One of the key challenges faced by Oberhausen is bureaucratic delays and insufficient preparation, which prevent the city from meeting program requirements on time or in full. To address these inefficiencies, the SPD has advocated for internal reforms. These include improving transparency, strengthening local governance roles in project execution, and collaborating more closely with funding bodies.
The aim is to ensure that future funding applications are well-structured and timely submitted, enabling Oberhausen to better leverage financial support. Sonja Bongers, the Chairwoman of the SPD City Council fraction and a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament, has emphasized the need to navigate the complex funding landscape, often referred to as 'funding jungles.'
The city's struggles with funding management have been evident in various instances. For example, Oberhausen failed to claim around 730,000 euros out of a 1.45 million euro grant from the Urgent Program for Inner Cities. There have also been cases such as the Altenberger Park, the delay in the multifunctional complex in Osterfeld, and the fiasco surrounding a grant for the renovation of the Europa Cinema, where Oberhausen either failed to receive funds or had to return them.
The SPD recognized the need to improve in this area as early as 2015, applying for the establishment of a central funding management office for acquiring third-party funds. Ulrich Real, the SPD's planning policy spokesman, stresses the importance of having concepts for targeted funding claims. He also highlights the existence of planning concepts in relevant departments as a step towards timely and targeted funding applications.
However, the city's staffing situation does not aid in meeting these tight deadlines, as stated by Sonja Bongers. Duisburg, for comparison, has reportedly claimed around 80% of its funds, while Oberhausen has claimed only slightly over 50%.
A report on the evaluation of the central funding management has been submitted to the main and finance committee since then. The WAZ published an article under the headline "City 'wastes' funding," shedding light on this ongoing issue in Oberhausen. The city cannot afford to miss out on significant funding sums, notes Sonja Bongers, underscoring the urgency of addressing these challenges.
- The funding challenges faced by Oberhausen in Germany extend beyond urban development projects, potentially impacting various aspects of business and finance, as inadequate management of funds could limit the resources available for economic growth and job creation.
- The complex landscape of funding, often referred to as 'funding jungles,' is a critical issue not just for local governments like Oberhausen, but also for national policymakers in the realm of politics and general-news, who must navigate these intricate systems to ensure that essential funds are directed effectively towards their intended purposes.
