Financial policy - Finance Minister defends planned supplementary budget
Finance Minister Alexander Lorz (CDU) defended the planned supplementary budget for Hessian 2024 in the Landtag in Wiesbaden. He indicated where the state government sets special priorities, stating, "This includes security on our streets and in our places, the education of our children, families, our municipalities, and the local economy." Not only Hessen faces significant financial political challenges. "The German economy is still lagging behind in growth, and this has consequences for our tax revenues," he explained.
In the draft budget, expenditures of approximately 39 billion Euro are planned. Given tax shortfalls and the strengthening of the Landesbank, a new borrowing of over 2.8 billion Euro is intended. Representatives of the opposition renewed their criticism of the plans. The "bloated" state government with the split Social Ministry and the additional Digital Ministry alone will cost taxpayers in Hessen more than 13 million Euro per year, declared the Green fraction leader Mathias Wagner.
The AfD deputy Roman Bausch criticized "an unnecessary ministry," and the FDP fraction leader demanded, among other things, more education funding. The budget is expected to be passed on Thursday (11. July).
- Alexander Lorz, the Finance Minister from Wiesbaden, Hesse, acknowledged the supplementary budget for Hessian 2024 in Parliament, highlighting elements such as children's education, municipalities, and local economy as key focus areas.
- During the debate on the supplementary budget, Mathias Wagner, the Green fraction leader, criticized the additional cost of the split Social Ministry and Digital Ministry in Hesse, estimating it to amount to more than 13 million Euro per year.
- In the Landtag of Wiesbaden, the CDU-led state government defended its financial policy, with Alexander Lorz explaining that Hesse, like the entire German economy, is currently facing substantial financial political challenges due to slow growth.
- Against this backdrop, Roman Bausch, an AfD deputy, criticized an "unnecessary ministry" in the planned budget, while FDP fraction leader called for increased funding in education, among other things, before the budget's expected passage in Parliament on Thursday.
