Oct 16, 2024 | At the annual closed meeting of the Baden-Württemberg Municipal Council, the mayors discussed financial issues and energy supply. The focus was on rising costs and future energy policy.
Rising administrative costs and a lack of counter-financing are putting a strain on communities
The meeting made clear how higher standards and legal regulations burden local governments. The Federal Participation Act in particular leads to enormous additional costs that are not fully offset. The Karlsruhe district alone is expecting an additional 30 million euros in 2025, according to District Administrator Christoph Schnaudigel. He announced a strict budget based on minimum standards and no new projects.
Energy supply remains a central issue
In addition to finances, the focus was on energy supply. Projects such as open-space and floating photovoltaic systems as well as municipal investments in Netze BW were discussed. Numerous communities are already actively involved in these energy projects.
Refugee accommodation remains at a high level
Despite falling numbers since the introduction of border controls, the accommodation of refugees in communities remains an important issue. District chairman Nowitzki emphasized that communities should not incur any additional costs by providing accommodation. In addition, integration management is being redesigned to better integrate refugees into the labor market.
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