Lübeck swimming pools: Price increase of up to 59% is threatened in October!

Lübeck swimming pools: Price increase of up to 59% is threatened in October!

The city of Lübeck is planning to significantly adjust the admission prices for public swimming pools from October 1, 2025. This is the first price increase in eight years and is no coincidence. Due to increased operating costs, tariff increases and an increased need for subsidies from the city budget, the administration sees a need for action. Loud LN Online The new tariffs can only cover 27.5% of the actual costs, which represents a slight improvement compared to the current 20%.

The specific changes are as follows: The admission price for adults is to rise from 4.40 euros to 7 euros, which corresponds to an increase of 59%. It will also be more expensive for children - the prices are to be increased by 80 cents to 3 euros, and with reduced tariffs to 1.50 euros. However, these adjustments are not without controversy.

Political discussion and concerns

Some political actors are concerned about the massive increase, in particular CDU sports politician Jens Zimmermann and Andreas Schulze from the Greens, who both question the size of the changes. While the Left and the GAL could potentially agree to a moderate adjustment, the final decision is still pending. The city administration will present the price increase to the school and sports committee on July 16th.

The need for price adjustments has already been discussed in the past. In 2015 there was a rejected increase of 10%, and in 2016 and 2017 the proposal was also described as anti-social. Only in February 2017 was a moderate price increase approved in order to reduce a deficit.

A look at the cost structure

The increased operating costs of the Lübeck swimming pool have amounted to a staggering 37.5% since 2017. In addition, the city's subsidy for operations has increased to almost 5.8 million euros per year. This is a clear sign that the city is demanding more support from the federal and state governments in order to minimize the financial burden on municipalities, as well ZDF determines.

Even if the new ticket prices are in the middle range compared to other northern German pools, there are great concerns about the financial viability of Lübeck's swimming pools. If there are no price adjustments, the cost coverage ratio could fall to 17.5% by 2025.

Social security and future prospects

The city has set itself the goal of ensuring social balance in pricing. Entry remains free for children under three years of age and for people accompanying people with severe disabilities. In addition, special tariffs for young people and students will be offered. With these adjustments, Lübeck's swimming pools could not only secure operations, but also prepare for future investments and renovations.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the political discussion will play out in the coming weeks and how the new pricing structure will affect visitor numbers. Those responsible are faced with the challenge of finding a solution that both ensures the financial stability of the swimming pools and meets the needs of citizens.