Kiel is struggling with a 104 million euro deficit: major projects are in danger!

Kiel is struggling with a 104 million euro deficit: major projects are in danger!

In Kiel, everything currently revolves around the city's financial challenges. With a budget deficit of around 104 million euros for the coming year, major projects are up for grabs. The council parties are united in calling for the planned projects to be examined closely in order to find possible savings. How NDR reports, the CDU in particular, together with the FDP, has put a review of major projects on the agenda.

From the new Hörnbrücke to the Olympic bid – not all projects seem to make sense given the city's tense financial situation. The SSW faction, for example, is calling for a critical look at the Hörnbrücke, while the Left and The Party are even bringing up stopping the Olympic bid. The Greens, on the other hand, are willing to compromise and would like to discuss possible savings potential together with the other parties.

Creative industries under pressure

The city's voluntary services are particularly the focus of the discussion. The CDU sees room for cuts here, especially in the creative industries, while the SPD vehemently opposes cuts in daycare centers, schools and affordable housing. Instead, the SPD is calling for relief from the federal and state governments in order to support the municipalities.

There is agreement among the parties that the city administration must work leaner and more efficiently. The pressure is high because the structural deficit in Kiel cannot simply be eliminated. As Björn Thoroe, the chairman of the council faction DIE LINKE/Die PARTEI, explains, a balanced budget can only be achieved if the revenue side is also improved. This is a point he emphasizes again and again, especially in light of developments at the local level.

Tax increases as a solution?

A hotly debated topic is the introduction of a bed tax, which a speaker is bringing into the debate. It could help increase city revenue. Interestingly, this idea was already proposed by the Left in 2012, but met with headwinds from the Greens and the SPD. In 2024 there was another application to introduce it - this time with limited success, as it was ultimately approved by the council meeting with one abstention.

The financial situation is not only tense in Kiel. So reported Destatis that the expenditure of municipal budgets in Germany increased by 12.6 percent, while income only increased by 7.6 percent. Social benefits take up a large part of the expenditure, which only increases the challenges for cities and communities.

So there is a comprehensive debate ahead that not only affects future projects in Kiel, but also the general financial situation of the city and its citizens. The course for the coming years must be set soon, and the parties are required to find solutions that are sustainable. It quickly becomes clear here: The financial pressure is not only on the municipalities now, but also in the future and will therefore remain a central topic on the political agenda.