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District budget 2026: Mainz-Bingen is struggling with financial holes!
The Mainz-Bingen district administration presents the draft budget for 2026, which includes a stable district levy and growing social spending.
District budget 2026: Mainz-Bingen is struggling with financial holes!
The financial situation in Mainz-Bingen is causing a lot of change. The district administration has published a draft for the 2026 district budget, which totals around 677 million euros. The stability of the district levy is a ray of hope that gives cities and municipalities more financial space for their own projects, such as Antenna KH reported. But what does that look like in detail?
The region's municipalities have to transfer a total of 280 million euros to Ingelheim, which is nine million euros less than last year. That sounds positive at first, but a look at the earnings budget reveals that a shortfall of around 49 million euros is expected for 2026. This inevitably leads to questions about future financing.
Increasing expenses and new challenges
A big problem is growing social spending. District Administrator Thomas Barth emphasizes that these will increase by around 18 million euros to a total of 224 million euros in the areas of youth and social affairs. And the “Active Municipality” immediate program only contributes a small portion of the compensation, namely 7.5 million euros for the next year.
In addition, investment loans will probably have to be included again when planning for 2027. This is necessary because the district is the only one in Rhineland-Palatinate that does not receive any euros from key allocation B, explains Barth. “There is something going on,” one could say – the need to adjust the municipal financial equalization in Rhineland-Palatinate is undisputed.
Loans and infrastructure projects
The current budget situation is forcing the district to consider taking out loans. SWR Current reports that reserves and a possible increase in the district levy by 2.5 percentage points to 38 percent may help stabilize finances in the coming year. Despite this possible increase, the district levy remains the lowest in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Investments in infrastructure projects at schools are also planned for the coming year. The special school in Sprendlingen is particularly targeted here. In addition, the “Hope Houses” integration project is being funded with 750,000 euros. Measures are also being taken in the health sector: the district will cover part of the loss of 1.65 million euros for the Holy Spirit Hospital in Bingen, half of which is owned by the district.
Climate protection and public mobility
Not only social but also ecological aspects are not neglected in the new household. Climate protection measures such as LED renovations in schools and the conversion of the KRN bus fleet to e-mobility are on the agenda. The construction of a modern bus depot in Wörrstadt is also intended to make citizens' mobility more climate-friendly. A positive development FM Rhineland-Palatinate considered necessary in the context of the KFA reform.
The reform of the municipal financial equalization, which has been in effect since January 1, 2023, is intended to ensure the necessary financial security for municipalities in the long term. And this despite the fact that the minimum financial resources are below the financial equalization amount of the previous year. Nevertheless, Rhineland-Palatinate is not alone in this. Other federal states are also taking similar approaches to mastering the financial challenges.
Finally, the financial situation in Mainz-Bingen remains tense. Progressive projects are on the agenda, but financial resources are limited. It is important to operate creatively and with foresight in order to master both the social and infrastructural challenges.