Mayor calls for higher state subsidy for refugee costs
Hanover's Lord Mayor Belit Onay is calling for the state to make an additional financial contribution to the local authorities' refugee costs. The Green politician said on Tuesday that it was important that the federal and state governments had agreed on a new distribution of costs based on the actual number of refugees. For the municipalities, however, it is crucial that the money reaches them. "The federal states must pass the money on to the municipalities in full and not keep any of it for themselves," said Onay. In addition, the state must also increase its own payments to the municipalities.
The Lord Mayor explained that the annual costs per refugee in Hanover are around 20,000 to 22,000 euros. "At best, we receive half of this from the state," said Onay. If the federal government were to add 7500 euros per head, there would still be a gap. "We need adequate funding that is based on the real costs. This must be supported by the state. The federal government has made a presentation, now the state is also required."
Onay also criticized the agreements between the federal and state governments for a tougher migration policy. "The new measures will not lead to fewer migrants coming to Germany. On the contrary, they will harm local integration," he said. For example, there is no scientific evidence that people do not come to Germany if they receive benefits in kind instead of cash benefits. The planned restrictions on benefits for asylum seekers in the first three years would also mean that families with children, for example, would receive lower integration benefits during this time than with the citizen's allowance.
The Green politician Belit Onay emphasized the necessity for the state to not only agree on a new cost distribution for refugees but also to pass the allocated funds fully to the municipalities, such as Hanover. Despite receiving half of the annual refugee cost per head from the state, the Lord Mayor highlighted the need for additional financial support, like an extra 7500 euros per refugee, due to the high expenses associated with refugee care.
With the rising costs of refugee care and the concerns of over-burdening municipalities, Onay expressed his disapproval of the tougher migration policies agreed upon by the federal and state governments. He asserted that these policies would not deter migrants from coming to Germany and may even hinder local integration, citing the lack of scientific evidence supporting the idea that people avoid coming to Germany due to cash benefits.
Source: www.dpa.com
