SPD calls for the last year of kindergarten to be free of charge – relief for families!

SPD calls for the last year of kindergarten to be free of charge – relief for families!

In recent weeks, many cities and municipalities have increased daycare fees, which represents an additional financial burden for many families. The social discussion about this has gained momentum and the SPD is pushing for reforms. Black Forest messenger reports that a supplementary budget is already being discussed in the state parliament. The aim is to support the affected families.

The SPD's proposal envisages making the last year of kindergarten free of charge, initially in 2026. This could mean massive relief for many parents. The SPD politician Jonas Hoffmann emphasizes that this measure can relieve the burden on families without endangering the quality of care or the financial situation of the municipalities. The SPD is also critical of the green and black state governments, which have so far stood by and watched as the fees for daycare centers continue to rise.

Financing of daycare centers

The challenges in kindergarten financing are not new. Since 2006, daycare use has increased by about 38%, particularly among those under three. This increase is accompanied by a growth in the number of kindergartens of around 33%. Wolters Kluwer explains that in 2023 there will be around 870,000 employees working in over 60,000 facilities in Germany. It is important that this important work is adequately funded.

In 2022, public budgets spent a total of 40.5 billion euros on child day care. The municipalities contributed 20.5 billion euros, which corresponds to around 50.7% of the total expenditure. This shows how heavily local government budgets rely on adequate financing. Nevertheless, there are large regional differences when it comes to the amount of parental contributions and the financing of needs-based offers.

The way into the future

The SPD sees the fee-free last year of kindergarten as the first step towards comprehensive fee exemption for daycare centers. However, financing issues are complex. Clear legal foundations and a sustainable solution are needed to stabilize costs in the long term and to offer real support to the families in our society. The pressure on the government will grow, especially considering that a law is needed to permanently cover the costs after the state elections.

Especially in times of financial constraints, many parents benefit from concrete measures that make their lives easier. The SPD hopes to be able to advance the cause in order to sustainably improve the family situation in our region.