Vogtland district imposes budget freeze due to social spending

The Vogtland district has issued a temporary budget freeze due to rising social spending. This mainly affects voluntary services in culture and sport, the district office announced on Tuesday. According to initial estimates, the deficit in the social sector will amount to more than 22 million euros this year. "The exploding costs are the result of a misguided federal migration and social policy," criticized District Administrator Thomas Hennig (CDU). "Services are ordered and then not paid for. As a local authority, we are therefore forced to extend this protective umbrella over our district budget."

The 2023/2024 double budget of the Vogtland district with around 222,000 inhabitants is reported to have a volume of around 690 million euros. Instead of the 137.5 million euros planned for social transfers in 2024, costs of around 160 million euros are now expected. According to the information, this includes assistance with care and upbringing, advance maintenance payments, reimbursements to health insurance companies for Ukrainian refugees and citizens' benefits including accommodation costs. The last time there was a budget freeze in the district was in 2014.