The community plans to invest 1.3 million euros next year. She currently has enough savings. But for two large projects the costs cannot yet be estimated.
The repair of the defective roof at the Erlau generation train station and the increasingly expensive renovation of the Landgasthof Crossen are two major projects that could pose financial challenges for the municipality of Erlau.
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As Mayor Peter Ahnert (independent) said this week at the presentation of the budget for 2021 in the local council, the expert from the Chemnitz district court is still a long time coming. This should determine who is responsible for the water damage to the station roof and therefore has to bear the costs. The municipality has planned around 300,000 euros for the station repair in the 2021 budget as a precaution, and another 380,000 euros for the inn. From the planned total budget of 5.2 million euros, 1.33 million euros are to flow into investment projects in the coming year. “Provided that we get the necessary funding,” says Ahnert.
The municipality wants to buy three new personnel carriers for the fire brigade – costs: 124,800 euros. According to Ahnert, the renewal of the respiratory protection technology for 50,900 euros is even more urgent. A further 73,000 euros are to be made available for new protective equipment. But investments should also be made in daycare centers and in education. After the renovation of the ground floor of the Erlau daycare center this year, the upper floor is to be converted and soundproofed for 39,500 euros in 2021. They also want to renew the building’s drainage system. 20,000 euros are budgeted for the Milkau daycare center. The money is to be used to renew the sanitary facilities, refurbish pipes and improve the acoustics. In order to digitally equip the Erlau elementary school, the municipality wants to invest 20,000 euros of its own resources and 51,000 euros in funding in new technology.
Sports should not be neglected in the community either. If Erlau receives 70 percent funding, then the unpaved runway and long jump facility will be renewed and straightened for 155,600 euros on the Erlau sports field.
“If there is 40 percent funding, then we want to build an extinguishing water cistern in Theesdorf for 107,000 euros,” Ahnert continues. The renewal of the railway bridge in the Beerwalde district will devour a much larger sum – according to a cost estimate that is around 574,000 euros. For the planning of the project, Erlau wants to put 99,000 euros in the budget for next year and hopes that 90 percent of the total costs will be funded. But also expenses of 110,000 euros for street maintenance are planned, according to Mayor Ahnert. The money will be used, among other things, for the removal of holes and cracks and for the repair of street lamps.
According to Ahnert, the municipality currently has reserves of 1.06 million euros. But it is difficult to estimate how the trade tax revenue, which has fallen by 15 percent this year, will develop in the next few months. Whether another loan of 200,000 euros will be necessary in order to be able to finance the own work for investment projects should be decided when the expenses for the train station and the inn are certain. The draft budget is available for inspection at the municipal administration until December 30th. It is to be decided on January 13th.
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