Repayment of 1.3 million euros: District council will decide on September 8th!

Repayment of 1.3 million euros: District council will decide on September 8th!

An important decision is imminent in the Altmark district: The district council will vote on September 8th on a repayment of around 1.3 million euros from the 2024 district levy. How AZ Online reported, the healing statutes for the district levy have already received the approval of the finance and district committee. This statute is a response to the city of Gardelegen's lawsuit against the district levy for 2024 and now also has an impact on the conflicting district levy for 2025. Despite these developments, the administrative court emphasizes that the healing statute cannot influence the ongoing court proceedings.

“Many fundamental questions about the 2024 district levy are still unresolved,” said Gardelegen’s mayor Mandy Schumacher, concerned. The repayment could retroactively reduce the district levy rate for 2024 to 39.05 percent, which would result in a total repayment of 1,347,232 euros to the cities and municipalities of the Altmark district. However, Bernd Kwiatkowski from the CDU/FDP faction warns that the money could be missing from the budget and planning for 2026.

Budget and financial planning in the Altmarkkreis

The budget for 2025 has already been approved by the State Administration Office, but with certain reservations. A comprehensive budget consolidation is planned for 2026, during which all expenditure will be put to the test. The district council is expected to decide on the budget for this year at the end of February 2026. When considering the 2026 budget, commitment appropriations for future expenditure, particularly in the area of ​​investments, will also be taken into account.

An example of a significant long-term investment is the bridge in Immekath, for which 1.8 million euros have been budgeted since 2022. The commitment authorizations add up to over 17 million euros in the area of ​​investments, of which more than 10 million euros are still available.

District levy: An important aspect of municipal financial equalization

Speaking of district levy: These payments are a central element in municipal law as they ensure inter-municipal financial equalization. How on Wikipedia As can be read, money flows both from “top to bottom” and vice versa to compensate for financial imbalances between communities. This means that heavily financed municipalities, also known as abundance municipalities, may have to make payments to financially weaker municipalities.

The legal framework is clear: levy obligations for these financially strong municipalities are constitutionally permissible. A judgment of Federal Administrative Court has made it clear that municipalities' financial concerns must be appropriately taken into account in such proceedings. Be it through different levy rates or through further reforms in municipal financial equalization - these financial structures are crucial for the eligibility of our communities.

The upcoming decisions in the district council could have far-reaching consequences for the financial stability of the municipalities in the Altmark district. How will cities and communities react to the new developments? One thing is certain: the discussions about the district levy remain exciting!