orffenbach ⋅ As expected, the Offenbach traffic light coalition supported the draft budget of the municipal treasurer Martin Wilhelm von der SPD set for the year 2023. Despite the time marked by crisis and uncertainty, the coalition supported by SPD, Verdi and FDP has agreed to stick to important investments for the city without imposing an additional burden on citizens, for example with a tax on higher real estate. According to a statement by the leaders of the parliamentary groups Helena Wolf (SPD), Sybille Schumann and Tobias Dondelinger (Die Grünen) and Dominik Schwagereit (FDP), the balanced budget presented to the city councilors for approval is suitable for achieving this goal.
The coalition partners explain that the draft budget reacts to the significant increase in costs for energy and construction work with significant savings, decided by the red-green-yellow city government. According to the budget, the originally planned administrative expenses are expected to be reduced by € 47.4 million over the next few years. However, this alone would not cushion the price increases and other effects of the crisis. A balanced budget is ultimately only possible because key municipal financial equalization appropriations increased by EUR 30.5 million to EUR 220 million from the previous year, as Wilhelm clarified in October. Without this key assignment Offenbach unable to finance all municipal taxes.
