How the city council mitigated the cuts
The 2026 budget was adopted by the city council on June 15, 2026. In the Main, Finance and Economic Development Committee (HFWA), many of the original HSK austerity measures were scrapped or softened – particularly in the social sector, much was preserved.
The administration (HSK) had proposed significantly harsher cuts. Here is the comparison of all measures that were changed in the HFWA or city council:
| Measure | Originally (HSK) | Adopted (HFWA/Council) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.8 Building maintenance (community center, monastery, outdoor pool) | Reduction of voluntary services | Scrapped – maintenance remains | ✅ Saved |
| M.10 OGS provider payments | Reduction by 50% (−290,000 €/year) | Scrapped – payments remain | ✅ Saved |
| M.17 Reduce subsidies (sports, music, culture) | Halving −50% | Scrapped – subsidies remain | ✅ Saved |
| M.19 Cut subsidies for migration services | Cut | Scrapped – subsidies remain | ✅ Saved |
| M.20 OGS fee increase | Parent contributions rise | Scrapped (tie 13:13 in HFWA, scrapped in city council) | ✅ Saved |
| M.22 NAF – Natural Acoustic Festival | Cancellation | Every 2 years, 35,000 € instead of 70,000 € | 🟡 Compromise |
| M.24 Dog tax | Increase | Scrapped | ✅ Saved |
| M.27 Catering for all-day schools | Cut | Scrapped | ✅ Saved |
| M.31 Fee increase for outdoor gastronomy | Increase | Scrapped | ✅ Saved |
| M.48 RodaRock | Cancellation | Scrapped – RodaRock remains | ✅ Saved |
| M.54 Subsidy for women's communication center | Reduction | Scrapped | ✅ Saved |
| M.56 Cost optimization for council member grants | Cut | Scrapped | ✅ Saved |
| Property tax B multiplier | 795 v.H. planned | 770 v.H. adopted | 🟢 Lower |
| Trade tax multiplier | 500 v.H. | 505 v.H. | 🟡 Slightly higher |
Despite the successes in the social sector, harsh consolidation measures remain:
−15.37M € for 2026 – that is still a massive deficit, just less dramatic than −19.03M €
Consolidation takes 10 years – until then the city remains under fiscal supervision
Job reduction through natural fluctuation – remains unchanged
Investment volume is frozen – problematic for infrastructure in the long term
New debts remain necessary – repayment only starts from 2028
Not on the HFWA amendment list → the original cuts likely go through
The financial impact of the mitigations in detail:
| Item | HSK proposal | Adopted (HFWA/Council) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deficit 2026 | −19,03 Mio. € | −15,37 Mio. € | +3,66 Mio. € |
| Property tax B multiplier | 795 v.H. | 770 v.H. | −25 points |
| Trade tax multiplier | 500 v.H. | 505 v.H. | +5 points |
| OGS provider subsidies | −50 % cut | unchanged | +290.000 €/yr |
| Association subsidies (sports, music, culture) | −50 % cut | unchanged | +345.500 €/yr |
| RodaRock | scrapped | preserved | +110.000 € |
| NAF | scrapped | every 2 years, 35.000 € | +35.000 € (halved) |
| Building maintenance | scrapped | unchanged | preserved |
These mitigations were achieved through the efforts of all factions in the HFWA. The administration had originally proposed significantly harsher cuts – particularly in the social sector (OGS, associations, migration, families), many measures were scrapped.
10 of 10 HSK measures in the social sector were scrapped. This shows: when everyone in the council works together, much can be achieved for citizens – even under difficult financial conditions.
In particular, the OGS provider payments (M.10), subsidies for sports, music and cultural associations (M.17), migration services (M.19), OGS fees (M.20) and the women's communication center (M.54) were preserved. RodaRock (M.48) as the region's most important youth festival also remains.
Consolidation continues – but more socially acceptable than originally planned:
⚠️ Nevertheless: the tax burden keeps rising. Property tax B rises to 1,490 v.H. by 2036 – that is almost a doubling compared to 2025 (733 v.H.). Trade tax rises to 680 v.H. Citizens will therefore be significantly more burdened in the long term, even if 2026 is initially more moderate.
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