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Budget crisis in the district: 15 job cuts and savings in local transport!
Alb-Donau-Kreis district presents draft budget for 2026 with deficit and planned investments in social infrastructure.
Budget crisis in the district: 15 job cuts and savings in local transport!
Next week, District Administrator Heiner Scheffold will present the district's draft budget for 2026. How Swabian reports, the district must expect a deficit of 10.5 million euros this year too. This is the fourth year in a row that expenses have exceeded income. The causes of the financial problems lie primarily in rising social spending and not in a lack of income.
A central point of the budget is the increase in social spending, which exceeds the 100 million euro mark for the first time in the planned budget. For 2026, the district must provide over 15 million euros more than in the previous year, which endangers the district's liquidity. The reserves are almost completely used up, and in an emergency the district could fall back on funds from its own waste management company.
Investment despite a deficit
The budget for 2026 has a total volume of around 381 million euros. Despite the tense financial situation, the district plans to invest in future projects. The current plan includes 5.3 million euros for the expansion of district roads and cycle paths and 10 million euros for the new building of the Alb-Donau-Klinikum in Ehingen. The total costs for the new clinic location are expected to amount to 370 million euros, of which 222 million euros will be borne by the state and 148 million euros by the district and the clinic.
The education sector will not remain unaffected by the savings. Investments totaling 1.15 million euros are planned for various schools in the district - including 450,000 euros for the Astrid Lindgren School.
Savings-effective measures and savings
In order to reduce the financial burden, the district is also promising savings of 5.6 million euros. To this end, 15.8 positions will be cut, including one management position, and the Office for Education and Sustainability will be dissolved. Around 3.2 million euros in material costs will be saved, especially in local public transport, and a voluntary travel subsidy for students will be eliminated, which corresponds to savings of around one million euros annually.
Another measure to combat the deficit is the planned increase in the district levy by two percentage points to 29.5 percent. Despite this increase, the district levy remains below the national average of almost 33 percent.
Federal budget and local challenges
Amid these financial challenges, the region is also committed to promoting local tourism offerings. Initiatives such as guided hikes, cooking classes and lectures on regional history are intended not only to stimulate the interest of tourists, but also to strengthen the local economy, which can have a positive impact on the everyday lives of citizens. Airbnb focuses on such activities and aims to inform holidaymakers about the cultural peculiarities and the beautiful landscape.