State parliament approves aid package for counties and municipalities in view of high cost increases

The state parliament has cleared the way in favor of the counties and municipalities affected by enormous cost increases. The deputies decided on Wednesday by a majority the necessary amendment of laws of the municipal financial equalization. Thus the Free State provides counties and municipalities still this year about 133 million euros for their tasks in connection with the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine.

The aid package negotiated with the municipal umbrella organizations also in view of enormous cost increases comprises a total of 180 million euros. 47 million euros of this comes from the federal government for the accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers, "we pass that on one to one," said Finance Minister Hartmut Vorjohann (CDU).

He pointed out that from the state budget 2023/2024 the municipalities have a total of 2.7 billion euros in addition. "That's quite a lot." The districts were under considerable pressure because "things were ordered" that "this national economy cannot afford in this way," Vorjohann criticized the federal government at the same time. "We can't get out of this problem if new standards are constantly being ordered."