Mayor Burkhard Exner explains the numbers: “The KIS economic plan for 2024 follows the state capital’s current double budget for 2023/2024 with its projects and investment grants. In order to meet the KIS’s extensive investments, 84% of them are financed with loans. This pushes the limits of what is possible. However, this ambitious goal can only be achieved if we can continue to demonstrate our so-called ongoing performance to local authorities. This means that the state capital must be able to balance its core budget again in the medium term.”
With its double budget for 2023/2024, the state capital has kept the investment volume of the state capital and KIS at a high level (a total disbursement volume for municipal investments of an average of EUR 140 million pa with an equity share of around EUR 40 million pa).
The following applies: investments and the loans required for them continue to have an impact on the debt level. “Due to the high level of investment activity, the per capita debt of Potsdam residents will continue to rise in the coming years. While this is currently at 1,328 euros, it is expected to rise to 2,631 euros by the end of 2027,” admits the town hall. The significantly higher interest rates than a few years ago are also expected to have a significant impact on the earnings budget of the city of Potsdam and the KIS. The expected additional debt service (repayment and interest) will mainly be generated in the budget of the state capital.
KIS plant manager Bernd Richter adds: “We also face several imponderables when implementing our many construction projects. The implementation of our investments takes place in a changing market environment. We expect construction costs to remain permanently high. Added to this are the increased technical requirements for the buildings. These in turn require highly qualified personnel. Skilled workers in this area are still difficult to find. However, we will strengthen our position as an attractive employer through various measures. The Municipal Real Estate Service can score points with demanding, interesting projects in the public interest while at the same time offering good and flexible working conditions.”
The vast majority of KIS investments go into educational infrastructure. Over 274.5 million euros will be invested here by 2027, which corresponds to 74% of the total investments. In 2024 alone, 50% of investments will only affect schools.
One of the most important projects in the KIS economic plan is the new expansion building with classrooms, sports hall and therapy pool for the Comenius special school on the Brauhausberg. After completion of the new extension, the existing building will be vacated in order to renovate and convert the existing building. The investment costs amount to just over 22.3 million euros. As for the school sports facilities, a new sports forum is planned to be built at Schlaatz. Two dual sports halls are planned, which can also be used by clubs in the future. But competitions and school events will also be possible in the sports forum. Investment funds amounting to 31.3 million euros are earmarked for this.
According to the town hall, a functioning, citizen-friendly administration is also important for the people of Potsdam. “That’s why almost 76 million euros will be invested in the administration buildings by 2027. In addition to the renovation of the town hall, the funds for the redesign of other areas of the campus are the most important items in the administration area. The old gymnasium on the administration campus is also to be demolished and replaced with a modern sports hall for Potsdam’s inner city schools,” the administration said.
2024-01-13 17:03:49
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