Suche
Mein Konto
Suhl increases property tax: City council makes drastic decision!
The city of Suhl is increasing property taxes due to financial losses. The city council voted 12 to 9 in favor of an adjustment.
Suhl increases property tax: City council makes drastic decision!
In Suhl, the city administration recently took a step that could upset many citizens: the city council increased the property tax rates. According to insuedthueringen.de, significant reductions in revenue after the property tax reform are the reason for this decision. In a roll-call vote, which was carried out at the request of BfS city councilor Jens Koch, 12 members voted in favor, 9 against and 5 abstained.
The property tax reform, which came into force on January 1, 2025, was required by the Federal Constitutional Court and is intended to ensure that the tax on real estate remains revenue-neutral. The property values are multiplied by a assessment rate and a measurement number. The average assessment rate for property tax B rose by almost 5% in 2022 compared to the previous year. In Thuringia there were the lowest increases at 4%, while in North Rhine-Westphalia the municipalities pulled hard on the lever - there was an increase of 13% kommunal.de.
Political reactions
In the meantime, the Left parliamentary group has introduced its own bill on property tax into parliament, which provides for far-reaching adjustments. Relief is planned from January 1, 2026. The Left criticizes the government for its slow progress on this issue, as tenants and home users continue to be excessively burdened mdr.de.
In particular, the draft law plans to increase the tax rates for commercial areas with the aim of placing greater burdens on them. Residential buildings, on the other hand, should not be affected by this new regulation, which gives municipalities the opportunity to adjust their assessment rates in order to reduce the overall burden.
Outlook for the future
However, the Thuringian Association of Municipalities and Cities warns against hasty reforms. Association president Steffen Kania, a representative of the CDU, emphasizes that a well-thought-out reform cannot be expected before the beginning of 2027. In addition, the implementation of the new property tax reform will involve considerable costs: around 3 million euros have been earmarked for this, with 2 million euros earmarked for hiring temporary staff in the tax administration.
The superstructure that the property tax represents for the municipalities remains not insignificant: around 240 million euros in income from this tax flow into Thuringia's city finances every year. The reform is intended to ensure that municipalities continue to have sufficient resources to carry out their tasks.
While the discussion about the property tax reform is in full swing, it remains to be seen what the actual impact of the adjustments will be and whether citizens in Suhl and beyond can benefit from the planned relief.