Record budget 2026: Weilheim-Schongau district under pressure!

Record budget 2026: Weilheim-Schongau district under pressure!

In the Weilheim-Schongau district, the budget for 2026 is in the starting blocks and is causing a stir among those responsible. With a record budget volume of 280 million euros, the draft was presented by district treasurer Matthias Brugger, which highlighted the financial challenges facing the region. Loud Mercury Rising personnel costs, high social benefits and external economic factors are primarily responsible for the strained budget situation.

The presentation included both the asset budget of around 33.1 million euros and the administrative budget, which includes around 247.6 million euros. Particular attention is paid to the operating cost subsidies for the hospital GmbH, which will amount to between 10 and 12 million euros in the coming years. District Administrator Andrea Jochner-Weiß emphasized that the current situation affects all districts and that a comprehensive plan for budget consolidation is therefore essential.

Budget freeze and its effects

But it's not just the figures for the new budget that raise questions. The government of Upper Bavaria accused the district of failings in the 2023 budget in a letter, which led to the decision to freeze the budget. This block, which covers 30 percent of all non-statutory spending, was decided to defuse the precarious budget situation. This affects a total of 1.754 million euros and also restricts voluntary benefits, such as Circle messenger reported.

The challenges line up like a chain: by 2026, per capita debt could rise to around 763 euros, which is well above the national average. In order to enable necessary investments, such as the replacement of the gymnasiums at the Weilheim high school or the general renovation of the FOS/BOS, the district is planning loans amounting to almost 38.5 million euros for the years 2024 to 2026. The general discussion in the district council so far has revolved around the financial situation and further savings options. In addition, it is expected that Hospital GmbH will receive a subsidy of around 12 million euros by 2023, which could possibly even rise to 14.3 million euros.

The difficult financial situation remains

However, despite all the savings measures, one thing remains clear: the new debt will amount to over 12 million euros. The district's total debt is expected to reach 109.3 million euros. The municipal financial equalization, which will increase to 12.83 billion euros in 2026, and additional funds from the Free State amounting to 3.9 billion euros are intended to promote investments in regional infrastructure. But without sustainable solutions, the challenges will remain pressing.

Future-oriented investments, such as those in schools and the district office building, are on the agenda. At the same time, measures to stabilize finances must be implemented as quickly as possible. Finally, the decisive vote in the district council is on December 5th, and whether a budget freeze will continue to exist remains to be seen. The discussions about the financial future will probably not lose their intensity in the coming weeks.