Budget 2024 approved

Approval of the 2024 budget was received in mid-April. In its capacity as the legal supervisory authority, the government of Middle Franconia approved the extensive set of figures as amended in March.

Investments totaling 88.4 million euros are planned. Major projects include

• Investments in daycare centers and in the youth sector (15.3 million euros), including grants for investments by independent providers amounting to 4 million euros
• 20.6 million euros will be invested in schools, including 7.4 million euros for the vocational training campus
• 1.5 million euros will be invested in the footpath and cycle path network
• 3.9 million will be invested in the environmental sector, including 1.75 million euros in grants for private energy-saving measures
• 2.2 million euros are earmarked for new jobs.

Climate protection and sustainability remain key cross-cutting issues. They can be found in all areas, for example in building renovations. Investment disbursements in the 2023 to 2027 financial planning period remain at a high level at a total of 379.5 million euros.

Reduction of 29.5 million euros

In the financial plan adopted in January, investments amounting to 117.9 million euros were planned. Following the government's objections, payments from investment activities were reduced by 29.5 million euros. Specifically, this was achieved by reducing the amount earmarked for the purchase and conversion of an office building by EUR 29.5 million. Furthermore, investment payments in the financial planning years 2025 to 2027 were reduced by postponing measures with a total volume of EUR 3.5 million.

The core budget does not require any new borrowing. The amended budget was approved without conditions. Nonetheless, the government pointed out in its concluding remarks that very high borrowing is planned in the financial plan up to 2027. This would significantly increase the level of debt.

With a view to future budgets, the city should develop a concept for achieving significant savings on the expenditure side. This applies to both administrative expenditure and investment expenditure. The city should focus primarily on the balance from current administrative activities in the financial budget, as this essentially reflects the long-term performance.

Click here for the budget statutes and budget plan - external link to the council information system

(A short version of the text is available in the city newspaper "Rathausplatz 1" - May 2024 issue)