The non-profit organization runs a daycare center and an after-school care center. In order to continue, it needs 150,000 euros per year. 30 people could lose their jobs.
A new day care law has been in force in Rhineland-Palatinate for three years. Since then, there have been new guidelines for crèches, kindergartens, after-school care centers and day care. However, opinions sometimes differ when it comes to financing.
The Mainz-Bingen district is responsible for financing
The Mainz-Bingen district is responsible for financing the day care centers as a public provider of youth services. This is undisputed. What is not clear, however, is how much money the district has to pay to each day care center. There are public providers, such as municipalities, and private providers, such as the Association MütZe.
The MütZe family center in Ingelheim is facing closure. Care for around 50 children is uncertain.
The Mainz-Bingen district does finance the staff for the daycare and the after-school care center. However, this is significantly less money than MütZe needs, according to the management. Additional costs such as electricity and water, or administration expenses are not covered.
If there is no solution, we will have to close at the end of the year.
The Mainz-Bingen district has already promised the MütZe association more funding, but according to Angela Sgro, director of the mother and family center, this is still not enough. “MütZe has existed since 1996 and supports families, offers youth welfare measures and helps people to cope with their everyday lives. Everything is connected.” The threatened closure of the center would affect 30 employees and around 80 volunteers.
There is a 150,000 euro hole at the MütZe mother and family center
The MütZe association is missing 150,000 euros every year. So far, the city of Ingelheim has advanced the money in the hope of getting it back from the district. MütZe is suing the Mainz-Bingen district in the administrative court for so-called “full financial support”. In North Rhine-Westphalia, independent organizations have won similar cases, says Angela Sgro. The trial will not take place until the beginning of November, however. “If there is no solution by the end of September, we will have to terminate employment and rental contracts because the money will only last until the end of December.” Unless the city of Ingelheim continues to step in financially.
We must treat everyone equally and cannot give more to anyone.
Court ruling expected in November
The Mainz-Bingen district administration is also waiting for the court hearing in November. “We have many independent daycare providers,” says spokesman Bardo Faust, “if we pay one organization more, the others will come too and want more money.” Now that the funds in the municipalities’ coffers are becoming increasingly scarce, everyone wants to save money.
Families fear for child care
A solution must still be found as quickly as possible, because the MütZe daycare and after-school care center looks after 50 children. If neither the city of Ingelheim nor the Mainz-Bingen district take action, the children will no longer have childcare at the end of the year.
Parents meeting on Friday
MütZe is now doing everything it can to prevent the threatened closure at the end of the year. In recent weeks, state parliament members and local politicians from various parties have visited to find out more. Today there will be a staff and parents meeting, and other politicians will also be informed.
