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According to treasurer Peter Krank, the city wants to significantly reduce the budget gap by 2028. But you shouldn’t save money in the wrong places. © Petra Him-Fahle
The golden years are over, as the warning words of Bad Nauheim treasurer Peter Krank made clear when he introduced the 2025 budget to the city parliament.
Despite the dark red numbers, the 2025 budget of the city of Bad Nauheim can be approved, said treasurer Peter Krank (independent) on Tuesday evening when he presented the figures to the city parliament. The budget volume is around 119.15 million euros in terms of expenses and almost 108.99 million euros in terms of income. The deficit is therefore 10.16 million euros. The city can balance the budget through reserves.
Investments are made despite financial difficulties. Two examples: The playground and football field at Deutergraben behind the Usa wave pool is a bit out of the way, but the area has become more central thanks to the adjacent markets and the newly opened Salus Clinic. Its aging flair is endearing, apart from the smeared pavilion and other unpleasant aspects. Trade will therefore take place in 2025/26. A little further away is Graduation Building IV, whose blackthorn needs to be replaced. The work is in progress. An immense cost factor, but maintaining the spa facilities is essential in the health city. In the coming year, the city plans to take out loans of 8.9 million euros to finance these and other infrastructure projects (see below).
The strengths of Bad Nauheim
The ability of the budget to be approved, the financial capacity – which still exists – and the opportunity to invest: this is important, according to Krank. “This is in order to maintain or further expand the excellent structural development of our city with the ever-increasing number of residents and guests.” Krank pointed out the city’s strengths, including health and spa facilities, culture and education, sustainability and climate protection, Digitalization and infrastructure as well as the attractive quality of life.
»Bad Nauheim is something to be proud of. Even if the financial framework changes, we will continue to stick to it and work, because saving without a strategy and concept can cause more harm than good. According to Krank, the goal is not to inhibit development potential and cause a downward spiral, but rather to achieve sustainable stabilization. He named prioritization, optimization and transparency as important keywords on this path. The latter to create acceptance.
With his words he also combined a warning: “There has to be a rethink!” Access to the reserves that the municipality had prudently invested in good years is finally available. “These reserves are being reduced faster than expected and will therefore soon be used up.” In the coming years, this will no longer be possible.
Forecast until 2028
Krank provided an overview of the development of the forecast annual results: in 2024 the deficit will be 7.5 million euros and in 2025 it will be 10.15 million euros. A minus of 5.7 million euros is expected for 2026 and 2027 and a minus of 1.1 million euros for 2028.
He pointed to a forecast by tax assessors from October that revenue would continue to develop negatively. »The country lacks income to cover its expenses. That’s why the municipal financial equalization must also be reassessed. According to Krank, it is expected that this will have an impact on the city’s financial planning. »New information comes to us every day that leads us to expect lower income. The downward trend in income and the upward trend in expenses is evident in all public bodies and needs an answer.«
Whether Bad Nauheim politics will find this will become clear during the deliberations in the city’s main and finance committee. According to committee chairman Manfred Jordis (CDU), the first reading will take place on Tuesday (from 6:30 p.m.) in the town hall, the second reading on Tuesday, February 25th and Thursday, February 27th. The city parliament is scheduled to decide on Tuesday, March 11th.
investments in the coming year
According to treasurer Peter Krank, examples of planned major investment measures in Bad Nauheim in 2025 are the graduation buildings, the conversion of the Celtic pavilion, the renovation of the Sauerbrunnen, the sewer/road renovations on Mittelstrasse, the sewage treatment plant, the construction of pedestrian and cycle paths, and the redesign of the playground At the Deutergraben, the fish ladder/weir in Schwalheim, the rain retention in Wisselsheim, investments in the vehicle fleet, operating equipment.
