Social spending in Thuringia is exploding: 1.9 billion euros are missing!

Social spending in Thuringia is exploding: 1.9 billion euros are missing!

The social spending situation in Thuringia has reached alarming levels in recent years. How thueringen24.de reported that the costs of child benefit, pensions, citizens' benefits and other social benefits have increased by more than 50 percent in the last five years. The districts of Nordhausen, Gotha, Altenburger Land, Wartburgkreis and Saale-Orla-Kreis are particularly affected, with an increase that exceeds this mark. But the increase is also just below that in Jena, Weimarer Land, Saale-Holzland district and Eichsfeld district.

A look at the numbers shows that the social spending of Thuringia's municipalities has increased by more than a quarter to 1.9 billion euros within just two years. Interestingly, although this expenditure represents a significant proportion of total budgets, it remains at a comparatively low level. In some districts, however, social spending has not increased as much as total spending, such as in Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Greiz, Sonneberg or Suhl.

Public spending and challenges

What does this mean for municipal finances? Last year, Thuringia's municipalities spent one in four euros on social benefits, which is how mdr.de describes, resulted in an increase in social spending by more than 240 million euros to a total of 2 billion euros. Above all, district council president Christian Herrgott (CDU) draws attention to the precarious situation and describes the situation as “social explosives”. In some districts, social benefits even consume two thirds of total expenditure.

There are many reasons for the rising costs: price increases in social institutions, legal changes and the increasing number of people in need of care are driving up expenses. The Gotha district, for example, reports an increase of over five million euros in social spending in the last five years. In addition, social assistance is increasingly being challenged, especially since many nursing home residents are unable to pay for their places. This leads to many municipalities making loud calls for better counter-financing from the federal and state governments.

Social security in focus

Overall, there is a trend bpb.de confirmed: In 2017, 57.2 percent of public spending in Germany went towards social security. With increasing expenditure in this area, the question arises as to how municipalities can overcome these challenges. The trend that the share of social spending in total budgets is increasing cannot be overlooked.

Rising social spending and calls for cuts make it clear that many Thuringian municipalities have to walk a fine line between necessary services and financial burden. The German District Council is therefore calling for social benefits to be reviewed in order to ensure a balance between citizens' demands and financial resources.

The topic will shape future political discussions, because the question of financing social security is and remains a central concern in society. Against this background, it will be exciting to see how the situation develops further.