Expert opinion rejects use of fund for budget restructuring

A new expert opinion has found that the generation fund of the Free State of Saxony is strictly earmarked for a specific purpose - and may not be used to restructure the state budget. This is the result of a legal analysis presented by several Saxon associations in Dresden. The fund's resources are earmarked exclusively for future pension and benefit obligations, the clients emphasize.

"Our concern is that today's political decisions must not be made at the expense of future generations," said Nannette Seidler, state chairwoman of the Saxon Civil Servants' Association (SBB). Budget legislators would be well advised not to think and plan in terms of double budgets or legislative periods. "Our children and grandchildren need their own reliable scope for decision-making and shaping their own budgets."

Legal expert opinion strengthens the associations' demands

The expert opinion was commissioned by the SBB together with the Saxon Business Association (VSW), the German Tax Union (DSTG), the Saxon Teachers' Association (SLV), the Association of Prison Officers (BSBD) and the Saxon Judges' Association (SRV). The author is the constitutional and administrative law expert Christoph Gröpl from the University of Saarbrücken.

Employer President Jörg Brückner spoke of a "smart and sustainable decision" to secure the pension burdens via the fund. In other federal states, a lack of reserves led to high pension costs - transferred to Saxony, this would mean billions in additional expenditure.

The chairman of the Saxon Association of Judges, Reinhard Schade, also made it clear: "Securing pensions has constitutional status in Saxony."

Warning against reaching into the reserve fund

Before the start of the budget consultations, the associations involved and the expert presented the results in Dresden on Tuesday.

The Saxon double budget for 2025/2026 provides for cuts in investments and jobs. The state government wants to reduce allocations to the generation fund by around half a billion euros. In total, a funding gap of 4.3 billion euros must be closed. The budget is to be adopted in the summer.