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HSK 2026 –What does this mean for Herzogenrath?

A detailed analysis of the budget consolidation concept of the city of Herzogenrath

⚠️ Update after budget resolution

This article was updated on25.06.2026updated. The 2026 budget was adopted onAdopted by city council on 15.06.2026. Many of the originally planned cuts were cancelled or mitigated in the Main, Finance and Economic Development Committee (HFWA) on the initiative of all factions. The following points have been updated accordingly.

📊 View before/after comparison

⚡ The key points in 30 seconds

▸ ⚠️ UPDATED– Deficit:−€15.37 million (adopted) Originally planned: −€19.03 million → Improved by €3.66 million through cancelled measures.
▸ ⚠️ UPDATED– Property tax B:770 v.H. (instead of originally 795 v.H.) Originally: +€840,000 increase → Now lower than planned, but still rising (2025: 733 v.H. → 2026: 770 v.H.).
▸ ✅ CANCELLED– OGS provider cut 50%:No longer adopted Originally: +€290,000/year less → Cancelled in HFWA.
▸ ✅ CANCELLED– Club subsidies −50%:Subsidies remain in place Originally: Halved subsidies for sport, music, culture → Cancelled in HFWA.
▸ 🟡 PARTIALLY UPDATED– RodaRock & NAF:RodaRock remains ✅ · NAF only every 2 years (€35,000 instead of €70,000) Originally: Both cancelled → RodaRock saved, NAF alternating.
▸ ~10 playgroundsare to be removed.(HSK, M. 70-71, S. 31) Not on the HFWA amendment list → likely still affected.
▸For comparison: Baesweiler needsno HSK– Property tax lower, trade tax higher.(baesweiler.de)

💰 What the HSK costs you

The austerity measures affect almost every area of public life. Here is the overview –updated after the resolution of 15.06.2026:

⚠️ UPDATED Property tax B – increase M. 2, HSK p. 13

⚠️ Adopted:2026: 770 v.H. (instead of originally 795 v.H.). Then rises +3%/year from 2027 to 1,490 v.H. in 2036.

Originally planned: +€840,000 for 2026, 795 v.H. → Now more moderate, but still rising.

770 v.H.

✅ CANCELLED OGS provider payments – 50% cut M. 10, HSK p. 15

✅ Cancelled in HFWA.The providers of the Open All-Day School retain their full funding.

Originally planned: −€290,000/year from 2027.

cancelled

✅ CANCELLED OGS fees – increase M. 20, HSK p. 17

✅ Tied in HFWA, cancelled in city council.Parental contributions remain stable.

Originally planned: “Parents will be severely affected” – specific amount still open.

cancelled

✅ CANCELLED Subsidies sport, clubs, music, culture – 50% cut M. 17, HSK p. 17

✅ Cancelled in HFWA.Club subsidies remain in full.

cancelled

✅ CANCELLED Waiver of maintenance for community hall, Klösterchen, outdoor pool M. 8, HSK p. 15

✅ Cancelled in HFWA (measure 8).Building maintenance continues.

cancelled

Reduction of consumptive material expenditure by 5% M. 1, HSK p. 13

Remains – not on the HFWA amendment list.

−5 %

Staff: freeze at 2025 level, from 2030 −2%/year HSK p. 7

Remains (from 2030). Through natural turnover. CDU: +20% staff (512→615), +44% personnel costs since 2020.

−2 %/J.

👶 Children, Youth & Families – what remains, what was saved?

Families with children were hit particularly hard by the original HSK.After the resolution of 15.06.2026the situation looks significantly better – but not everywhere:

OGS cut 50% (M. 10, S. 15) — ✅ CANCELLED

✅ Cancelled in HFWA.The providers of the Open All-Day School retain their full funding. Parents need not expect worse care or higher fees.

Originally planned: −€290,000/year from 2027, worse care, higher parental contributions.

OGS fee increase (M. 20, S. 17) — ✅ CANCELLED

✅ Tied in HFWA, cancelled in city council.Parental contributions remain stable. The HSK had originally predicted: “Parents will be severely affected.”

RodaRock (M. 48, S. 27) — ✅ REMAINS

✅ Measure 48 was cancelled in HFWA– RodaRock, the region's largest youth festival, still takes place!

NAF (M. 22, S. 17) — 🟡 EVERY 2 YEARS

🟡 NAF is not completely cancelled, but takes place only every 2 years.Budget: €35,000 instead of €70,000 per year.

Originally planned: complete cancellation. The specialist department warned: NAF is a “key unique feature” for Herzogenrath.

Remove playgrounds (M. 70-71, S. 31) — ⚠️ Still affected

⚠️ Not on the HFWA amendment list– the measure to reduce approx.10 playgroundsis likely still adopted. Playgrounds near homes for children remain at risk.

Child and youth welfare under pressure

2025 already€2.88 million additional expenditure, daily rates up by +20–25%.(HSK, p. 5)– This pressure persists regardless of the resolution.

👴 Seniors – what is being cut?

Seniors are the largest population group in Herzogenrath (30.3% over 60). What the HSK provides for them:

Senior citizens' advisory board – subsidy cancelled M. 53, HSK p. 27

€3,800 saving – justified by existing funds from previous years

−3.800 €

Senior trip only every 3 years M. 39, HSK p. 25

Previously every 2 years. Saving: €20,200

−20.200 €

Overall, it affects seniors with€24,000 cut– comparatively moderate. But: hardly any new services for the growing number of seniors.

📊 The demographic imbalance

Herzogenrath is ageing – and this has direct consequences for city finances.

45,8

Average age
♂ 44,5 / ♀ 47,0

174,5

Ageing index
174 seniors per 100 children

30,3 %

Population 60+
approx. 14,600 people

16,3 %

Population U18
approx. 7,800 people

Source: Urbistat 2023

While the city cuts from families, the number of seniors continues to grow. This meansrising social expenditure with declining revenues– a dangerous combination.

🏨️ Comparison: Herzogenrath vs. Würselen vs. Baesweiler

	Herzogenrath	Würselen	Baesweiler
Property tax B (2025)	733 %	850 %	710 %
Property tax B (2026 adopted) ⚠️	770 % (orig. 795% planned)	850 %	710% (unchanged)
Trade tax (2026)	505 %	No information	470 %
HSK necessary?	YES – mandatory	Voluntary consolidation concept	NO
Property tax increase 2026?	YES – 770 v.H. (orig. 795 planned)	From 575→850% (2024 retroactive)	NONE
Property tax per capita	No information	No information	180,50 € (lowest in Städteregion)
Deficit 2026 ⚠️	−€15.37 million(orig. −€19.03 million)	Originally −€15 million	Balanced
Staff development	+20% staff, +44% costs (CDU, 25.08.2025)	No information	No information

Quellen: HSK Herzogenrath 2026 · Steuerzahlerbund NRW (Hebesätze 2025) · baesweiler.de („Gelber Zettel") · wuerselen.de · cdu-herzogenrath.de (25.08.2025) · Stadtratsbeschluss 15.06.2026

🔻 Where does this lead? The downward spiral – and why it is mitigated but not stopped

The budget resolution of 15.06.2026 has averted many of the worst cuts – OGS, club subsidies and RodaRock were saved. But the fundamental problem remains:

What was improved:

✅ OGS provider cut cancelled – parents relieved
✅ OGS fee increase cancelled
✅ Club subsidies remain in full
✅ Building maintenance (community hall, Klösterchen, outdoor pool) remains
✅ RodaRock still takes place
✅ NAF alternating instead of cancellation
✅ Property tax more moderate than planned (770 instead of 795 v.H.)

What remains problematic:

⚠️ Deficit 2026: −€15.37 million – still massive
⚠️ Property tax B rises: 2026 to 770 v.H., then +3%/year to 1,490 v.H. by 2036
⚠️ Budget balance only from 2036 – 10 years of austerity
⚠️ Material expenditure −5% remains
⚠️ Staff −2%/year from 2030 remains
⚠️ Playground closures not cancelled

Property tax continues to rise

Even though 770 v.H. is less severe than 795 v.H. – property tax rises to 1,490 v.H. by 2036. This increasingly burdens families and property owners.

Outmigration remains a risk

Baesweiler (710 v.H., no HSK) remains clearly more attractive. Playground closures and rising property tax could still drive families away.

Trade tax higher than Baesweiler

505 v.H. trade tax in Herzogenrath vs. 470 v.H. in Baesweiler – companies could choose the cheaper location.

Next HSK will certainly come

−€15.37 million deficit and budget balance only from 2036: if revenues do not rise, the next austerity package looms in a few years.

Many cuts were averted – but the foundation is still shaky.The HSK continues to cut at the expense of the city's future. Driving away children, young people and families destroys the foundation for tomorrow. The resolution of 15.06.2026 is a success for all who got involved – but it is no free pass. The structural problems remain.

📚 References

Budget consolidation concept (HSK) of the city of Herzogenrath 2026– in particular pages 3, 4, 5, 7, 13, 15, 17, 25, 27, 31, 35–45.
City council resolution of 15.06.2026:Budget 2026 adopted. HFWA amendment list with cancellations and mitigations of numerous measures.
Urbistat 2023:Demographic data Herzogenrath – average age 45.8 years, ageing index 174.5, 30.3% over 60, 16.3% U18.
Taxpayers' Association NRW:Property tax rates 2025 for Herzogenrath (733%), Würselen (850%), Baesweiler (710%).
baesweiler.de – “Yellow notice”:No HSK needed, property tax B 710% stable, no increase 2026, €180.50 property tax per capita, trade tax 470%.
wuerselen.de:Property tax B increased from 575% to 850% (2024 retroactive), originally 1,450% planned, voluntary consolidation concept.
cdu-herzogenrath.de (25.08.2025):“Financial collapse of the city of Herzogenrath” – deficit over €20 million, staff +20% (512→615 positions), personnel costs +44%, indoor pool €15→€24 million.