Budget approved for 2021
From Beate Zehnle-Lehmann
Wed, 20 Jan 2021 at 17:24
Schuttertal
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The local council decided on the 2021 budget: more savings, less deficit
Contrary to the first draft budget, the municipality of Schuttertal will start the new year with much lower borrowing. That is the result of the municipal council meeting on Tuesday evening. The decision was preceded by a retreat in December in which the administration and councils intensively discussed the financial items of the first draft and determined savings. The result is a reduction in borrowing from 561,000 to 150,000 euros.
The calculation result has improved
The result of the calculation has improved, the administration and the municipal council found some potential for savings in their exam. Mayor Matthias Litterst said: “A first draft is something like the big wish list, with everything that we would like to implement. However, it was clear from the start that we would not be able to fulfill all of our wishes, that we would have to prioritize and weigh up. “
Despite drastic shortfalls in the key allocation and an increased district levy, a budget could be presented that would make it possible to advance the community. The savings are justifiable, and the municipality can also fall back on liquid funds (815,000 euros) that were available due to previous years with high trade tax. When purchasing a fire engine (370,000 euros), the costs are to be divided according to the payment effectiveness. The same procedure applies to the renovation of the old school in Dörlinbach (200,000 euros). “Some of the projects will only become cash effective in 2022,” explained Litterst. However, there is a waiver of individual purchases in the amount of 26,500 euros at the building yard. Chamberlain Lisa Kopf said this was done in consultation with the building yard.
The cycle path and parish barn remain in the budget
Overall, the changes lead to savings of almost 597,000 euros. Another plus of around 169,000 euros results from investments that are postponed for the time being. This includes, among other things, various renovation work on the town hall (25,000 euros) and the savings in operating costs in the daycare centers, which, according to the church sponsor, amount to 90,000 euros.
This will reduce the deficit in the budget from the original 612,000 euros to 453,000 euros. Mayor Litterst emphasized that despite the austerity measures, some things could be implemented and projects that had already started could be continued and completed. These include the old parish barn (senior housing project), the expansion of the Dörlinbach – Schweighausen cycle path, the renovation of the Herrenmattbrücke and the old Dörlinbach school. The community is also investing in fire brigades, cemeteries and digitization in primary schools.
“We are making progress. But the truth is also that the expenditure exceeds the income,” said Litterst. The key is to keep the community attractive for young families in order to counter declining population numbers.
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