The use of sports halls in Lohsa is becoming more expensive
On Tuesday, the municipal council passed the amended usage and fee regulations by a majority.
By Andreas Kirschke
3 Min.
© Symbol photo: Uwe Schulz
The municipality of Lohsa is increasing the fees for the use of its municipal sports halls. This is a response to the significant increase in operating costs and personnel costs in recent years. On Tuesday, the municipal council passed the amended usage and fee regulations with a majority of eleven yes votes and three no votes.
“It’s essentially about our two municipal gyms: the school gym in Groß Särchen and the club gym in Weißkollm,” explained Mayor Thomas Leberecht (CDU). “The adjustment of the user fees is based on the fee structure from 2002.”
According to an overview by the Federal Association of Water and Energy, electricity costs alone rose considerably between 2002 and 2024. The minimum wage has also continued to rise in recent years.
The municipality of Lohsa has looked intensively at the fee structure. “Since the rental price list was set in 2002, the operating and personnel costs have changed significantly,” noted the associated draft resolution. “In view of the ever-increasing operating costs, such as for water, electricity and heating, an adjustment of the fees for municipal sports facilities is necessary.” As a result of the calculation, the municipality of Lohsa determined a cost-covering user fee of 85.32 euros per hour of use. An alternative minimum fee would be 72.92 euros per hour of use. “We didn’t make it easy for ourselves,” explained Thomas Leberecht. “Internally, we decided that we don’t want to be higher than the fees in the Bautzen district. We will set the price politically.”
For clubs or sports groups (adults) based or with a focus on practice in the municipality of Lohsa, the hourly usage fee will increase from five to twelve euros. For clubs or sports groups (children’s and youth sports until 7 p.m.), a usage fee of five euros per hour will be set in the future. The free use for school and classroom sports and by day-care centers in the municipality of Lohsa will continue to exist.
“We looked at each gym individually. The approach was: the cost-covering imputed fee is not set; the political price applies,” explained Katrin Reinhardt, the responsible employee of the Lohsa municipality in the area of general administration, schools, daycare centers, culture, sports and insurance. The municipality, she explained, expects additional income of 5,000 euros per year from the changed fee structure.
In future, there will be an obligation to pay in advance for use. This has two advantages, it is said: administrative work is simplified. In addition, the clubs are disciplined to actually adhere to the usage times, says Katrin Reinhardt. The municipality hopes that the clubs will continue to use the sports halls actively. The Weißkollm sports hall, Thomas Leberecht emphasized, now has a higher quality surface than before. The heating system, the windows and the entrance area have been replaced.
“What if clubs cannot afford the higher usage fees?” asked local councillor Hardy Gawor (AfD). The current fee does not cover costs, said Katrin Reinhardt. The municipality had to act urgently. Local councillor Hagen Aust (CDU) believes the increase is justifiable and affordable. He himself has been involved with the Hoyerswerda water rescue service (organised in the DRK district association Bautzen e. V.) for years. “We pay almost 100 euros per hour of use in the swimming pool,” he said. He considers the adjustment of fees in Lohsa to be moderate.
