Infrastructure - District mayors warn against social cuts
Berlin's twelve district mayors are warning of a "slashing of social infrastructure" as a result of the planned 2024/2025 state budget. In a letter to the House of Representatives published on Tuesday, they criticize in particular a new regulation according to which the districts will no longer receive money from the state for unfilled positions. If these funds are no longer allowed to contribute to meeting general savings targets, the districts would inevitably have to make savings in social infrastructure.
"School cleaning, for example, will be affected by the cuts," said a joint statement from the district mayors. However, it also affects social projects such as youth leisure facilities, family and neighborhood centers or senior citizens' leisure centers. "In addition, services to combat addiction and homelessness will have to be restricted."
The district mayor of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Clara Herrmann (Greens), explained: "It is in the interests of the state and districts that Berlin functions better. To achieve this, the districts must be equipped accordingly - both in terms of personnel and funding." Her colleague from Treptow-Köpenick, Oliver Igel (SPD), explained: "The current cuts will be felt directly by Berliners, because in the districts we do not work in the abstract, but are particularly close to the people with our services."
The Neukölln district office issued a budget freeze for 2024 in view of the decision expected on Thursday by the Berlin House of Representatives on the 2024/2025 double budget and the associated savings targets. This prohibits the offices in the district from entering into new commitments or concluding new contracts, according to a statement. Money from the budget may only be spent on absolutely necessary expenditure. In addition, a reduction in "non-essential services" must be examined. "With the current draft budget, we have our backs to the wall", explained district mayor Martin Hikel(SPD).
The "Tagesspiegel" first reported on the joint letter from the district mayors.
Communication and letter
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- The national budget for 2024/2025 includes plans for reducing funding to Berlin's districts, which could lead to cuts in social infrastructure, affecting services such as school cleaning, youth leisure facilities, family and neighborhood centers, senior citizens' leisure centers, and addiction and homelessness programs.
- The SPD district mayor of Treptow-Köpenick, Oliver Igel, criticized the planned budget, stating that the cuts will have a direct impact on Berliners and their daily lives.
- In response to the expected decision from the Berlin House of Representatives on the 2024/2025 double budget, the Neukölln district office has issued a budget freeze, which prohibits the district offices from making new commitments or entering into new contracts.
- The SPD district mayor of Neukölln, Martin Hikel, expressed concern over the current budget draft, stating that the districts are "back against the wall" due to the funding cuts.
Source: www.stern.de
