The four mayors point out that municipalities form the foundation of the community. They provide childcare, schools, social services, cultural programs, sports, public transportation, and the maintenance and expansion of municipal infrastructure. At the same time, they are confronted with steadily rising expenses and increasing legal requirements.
The financial situation of many cities and municipalities has now reached a point where it seriously jeopardizes their ability to act. In particular, sharply rising social spending, additional responsibilities transferred by the federal and state governments, and the consequences of crises affecting society as a whole are placing a considerable strain on municipal budgets. Revenue growth cannot keep pace with these burdens.
The mayors emphasize that the consequences are already being felt directly on the ground today. Necessary investments in schools, daycare centers, roads, bridges, digitalization, climate protection, housing construction, and public facilities are coming under increasing pressure. Yet it is precisely the municipalities that play a decisive role in determining whether the state’s major future challenges can be successfully addressed.
Against this backdrop, the cities of Nuremberg, Fürth, Erlangen, and Schwabach are calling, as a first step, for a short-term emergency program from the federal and state governments to stabilize municipal budgets. Given the historic deficits, the cities urgently need tangible financial relief to ensure their ability to act and to continue making urgently needed investments.
Furthermore, structural reforms are indispensable. The mayors support the call by the leading municipal associations for the consistent implementation of the principle “whoever commissions, pays.” New statutory responsibilities and higher standards should only be assigned to municipalities if their funding is permanently and fully secured.
Equally necessary is sustainable relief for cities and municipalities in terms of social spending. The financing of tasks affecting society as a whole must not be borne permanently by the local level. At the same time, the revenue base of municipalities must be strengthened so that they can fulfill their responsibilities independently and make the necessary investments for the future.
The mayors of the four cities agree that strong municipalities are an essential prerequisite for economic development, social cohesion, and public trust in the state. The current financial situation must not lead to investments being postponed, services being curtailed, or the scope for action being further restricted.
With their joint statement on the “Municipalities at the Limit” day of action, the cities of Nuremberg, Fürth, Erlangen, and Schwabach are sending a clear signal to the federal and state governments: The municipal financial crisis has long since become a challenge for the government as a whole. Swift assistance and long-term reforms are now needed so that cities and municipalities can remain effective in the future and continue to shape the future at the local level.
Marcus König, Mayor of Nuremberg:
“The financial crisis facing cities and municipalities is no longer just a local issue, but a challenge for the entire nation. We now need immediate relief and sustainable reforms so that cities like Nuremberg can continue to invest, shape the future, and be there for the people in our communities.”
Thomas Jung, Mayor of Fürth:
“The heart of public services clearly beats in our cities and municipalities. Therefore, the federal and state governments must provide municipalities with sufficient funding to adequately finance their diverse responsibilities—ranging from healthcare, housing, education, climate protection, sports, and culture to infrastructure and energy supply. Cities and municipalities that are forced to live off their assets and debt cannot fulfill their constitutionally mandated responsibilities. This can jeopardize the stability of our democracy and significantly worsen people’s quality of life.”
Jörg Volleth, Mayor of Erlangen:
“Local governments bear a great responsibility for the future of our state—from education and integration to climate protection and mobility, and on to social inclusion and a diverse range of cultural and sports offerings. An attractive business location needs strong cities with efficient infrastructure and a high quality of life. At the same time, the tasks and expenditures of cities and municipalities are steadily increasing. When the federal government and the Free State impose new legal obligations on municipalities—such as the legal right to full-day care for elementary school-aged children—reliable and adequate funding must also be ensured. Only municipalities with the financial capacity to act can make the necessary investments in the future, strengthen their region, and secure citizens’ trust in an effective government.”
Fürth’s Mayor Thomas Jung, Nuremberg’s Mayor Marcus König, Erlangen’s Mayor Jörg Volleth, and Schwabach’s Mayor Peter Reiß (from left to right). Photo: Christine Dierenbach/City of Nuremberg.