Utting already had a high level of debt for a rather small municipality with around 4,600 inhabitants. But this year, another five million euros must be taken on top of the existing 20 million euros in debt. Further loans are also planned for the coming years. By the end of 2023, the debts per inhabitant will amount to 5,474.85 euros, said treasurer and manager Matthias Graf when presenting the draft budget for 2023 at the most recent municipal council meeting.
The municipality took out loans of 19 million euros for its own municipal company alone, which built 88 subsidized apartments as part of the municipal housing promotion program (KommWFP). Not all apartments are ready for occupancy yet. But with the rental income, the loans, which were granted on favorable terms with a term of 30 years, are to be repaid with 635,600 euros annually. In addition, interest payments of 125,000 euros will be due this year, as there are still several loans with a volume of 1.9 million euros.
A further payment of 3.2 million euros in subsidies is expected this year, which will be passed on to the municipal company. According to Kämmerer, the current costs for the housing construction funded with 12.8 million euros via KommWFP are 31.8 million euros. Overall, the municipality of Utting expects 1.1 million euros in rents, leases and operating income this year.
Investments are primarily made in childcare facilities
The latest debts cause various construction measures: Investments are made primarily in childcare facilities. For example, in the former bank building on Bahnhofstraße, the new citizens’ meeting place of the association “Füreinander eV” will be built on the ground floor, the upper floors will be converted for a new day-care center with three groups from the sponsor “Children’s Aid Oberland”. In addition, work is being done at the school, the station shed is being expanded into a refuge, Hechenwanger Strasse is being renovated and a plot of land is being bought for the development of the planned northern commercial area. A hut for the lifeguards and a toilet facility in the summer park will also be newly built.
Peter Noll (GAL) warned that by 2026 almost ten million euros in new debt would have to be taken on. Nevertheless, there were still a few wishes in the budget consultation, including an annual budget for the construction of photovoltaic systems. The figures were approved unanimously.
