The summit paints a dramatic picture of the financial situation in the counties
The outlook is bleak: in 2024 and in the coming years, most districts will have to continue relying on reserves and taking loans, the newspaper reported, citing calculations by the Association of Districts.
Sager explained the background, saying that districts are "continuously given new tasks" and the number of regulations is increasing. "We're drowning in bureaucracy."
Sager demanded "adequate funding tailored to needs, specifically: the federal and state governments must give us the money we need to fulfill our tasks." As tasks grow, so do costs.
If the financial situation doesn't change, there will be further cuts to voluntary expenditures. Subsidies for sports clubs, museums, libraries, or music schools could be reduced or eliminated, Sager said. "That would be disastrous given the tense mood in the country."
The Association of Districts predicts that most districts will continue to depend on reserves and borrowing in 2024 and beyond due to financial constraints. In light of the increasing number of tasks and regulations, Sager advocates for sufficient and needs-based funding from both the federal and state governments to manage these responsibilities effectively.
