What the HSK means forYour familymeans

Concrete calculation examples for families in Herzogenrath – and how you fare elsewhere

💡 The most important thing first

The budget consolidation concept (HSK) 2026 of the city of Herzogenrath isevery family with childrenfeel financially. Through the combination of property tax increase, OGS cuts, higher fees and fewer services,several hundred euros additional costs per yeartogether.

All figures are based on the official HSK document and publicly accessible sources.

⚠️ IMPORTANT UPDATE (25.06.2026) Der Haushalt 2026 wurde am 15.06.2026 beschlossen. Viele der hier beschriebenen Kürzungen wurden im HFWA auf Initiative of all factions AVERTED. The calculation examples below show theORIGINAL HSK proposal. The actual burden issignificantly lower.

🏠 Example 1: Family with 2 children, 4-room flat

Mother and father, both employed. Two children: 7 years (OGS care) and 4 years (KiTa). Living in a 4-room owner-occupied flat in Herzogenrath-Mitte.

Annual additional costs – ORIGINAL HSK proposal vs. ADOPTED budget

Property tax B – increase 2026(M. 2, HSK p. 13) +~60 €

Property tax B – further increase 2027(M. 2, HSK p. 13) +~85 €

OGS fee increase(M. 20, HSK p. 17) +~150–250 € ✅ CANCELLED

OGS: worse care due to 50% provider cut(M. 10, HSK p. 15) indirect✅ CANCELLED

Club fee football (2x children) – 50% subsidy cut(M. 17, HSK p. 17) +~60–100 € ✅ CANCELLED

Actual additional burden (only property tax, 770 v.H. instead of 795 v.H.) ~60–85 €

~~Originally planned: ~€355–495~~ −83% through HFWA intervention

✅ Update (25.06.2026):The OGS fee increase, the OGS provider cut and the club subsidy cut were all cancelled in the HFWA. Only the property tax increase (to 770 v.H. instead of originally planned 795 v.H.) remains.Saving: ~€295–410/year

👩‍👧 Example 2: Single mother, 1 child (10 years)

A single mother with a part-time job, living in a rented flat in Kohlscheid. Child attends OGS, plays in the music club.

Annual additional costs – ORIGINAL HSK proposal vs. ADOPTED budget

Property tax B – indirectly via service charges(M. 2, HSK p. 13) +~20–35 €

OGS fee increase(M. 20, HSK p. 17) +~100–180 € ✅ CANCELLED

Music club – 50% subsidy cut(M. 17, HSK p. 17) +~30–50 € ✅ CANCELLED

Fewer leisure activities (RodaRock remains, NAF only every 2 years)(M. 48, 22) 🟡 mitigated

Actual additional burden (only property tax) ~20–35 €

~~Originally planned: ~€150–265~~ −87% through HFWA intervention

✅ Update (25.06.2026):OGS fee increase and music club subsidy cut were cancelled. RodaRock remains, NAF now takes place every 2 years (instead of completely cancelled). Only the property tax increase remains.Saving: ~€130–230/year

👨‍👩‍👧‍👧‍👦 Example 3: Family with 3 children, detached house

Family with detached house in Merkstein. Three children: 12, 8 and 5 years. Two children in OGS, all three in clubs (swimming, football, scouts).

Annual additional costs – ORIGINAL HSK proposal vs. ADOPTED budget

Property tax B – increase (detached house, 770 v.H.)(M. 2, HSK p. 13) +~100–160 €

OGS fees 2x children(M. 20, HSK p. 17) +~200–400 € ✅ CANCELLED

OGS provider cut – worse quality(M. 10, HSK p. 15) indirect✅ CANCELLED

Club fees 3x children at −50% subsidy(M. 17, HSK p. 17) +~90–180 € ✅ CANCELLED

No RodaRock, no NAF – alternatives cost(M. 48, S. 27; M. 22, S. 17) +~50–100 € ✅ RodaRock remains, NAF every 2 years

Actual additional burden (only property tax) ~100–160 €

~~Originally planned: ~€440–840~~ −77% through HFWA intervention

✅ Update (25.06.2026):OGS fees, OGS provider cut and club subsidy cut were all cancelled. RodaRock still takes place. NAF takes place every 2 years (instead of completely cancelled). Only the property tax increase (770 v.H.) remains.Saving: ~€340–680/year

🔁 Herzogenrath vs. Baesweiler – The direct comparison

For a family with 2 children in a detached house –Status after budget resolution 15.06.2026:

Cost	Herzogenrath (adopted 2026)	Baesweiler (stable)
Property tax B rate	770 v.H. (adopted) (originally 795 v.H. planned)	710% stable (baesweiler.de)
Property tax per capita	Rising (770 v.H. from 2026)	180,50 € (lowest in Städteregion)
OGS fees	✅ NO increase (measure cancelled in HFWA)	No increase announced
Club subsidies	✅ No cut (measure cancelled in HFWA)	No cut
Youth events	🟡 RodaRock remains, NAF every 2 years (originally both cancelled)	Available
Playgrounds	~10 will be removed (M. 70-71, HSK p. 31)	Retained
City's financial situation	HSK mandatory −€15.37 million deficit (originally −€19.03 million)	Balanced No HSK needed

Eine Familie spart in Baesweiler immer noch – aber deutlich weniger als ursprünglich befürchtet Thanks to all factions in the HFWA, most cuts were averted. What remains is the property tax increase.

Quellen: HSK Herzogenrath 2026 · Haushaltsbeschluss 15.06.2026 · baesweiler.de („Gelber Zettel") · Steuerzahlerbund NRW · Urbistat 2023

🎯 What does this mean for you?

✅ Relief through the budget resolution Die Belastung für Familien ist durch den Einsatz of all factionsin HFWAdramatically lowerthan originally planned. Instead of~~355–840 €~~Additional costs per year remainsonly the property tax increase (~€60–160 depending on housing situation). All other cuts (OGS, clubs, youth events) wereaverted or mitigated.

Remaining for families:

Higher living costs due to rising property tax (770 v.H. instead of originally 795 v.H.)
Higher care costs and worse OGS quality✅ averted
Higher club fees due to subsidy cuts✅ averted
NAF only every 2 years (instead of annually) – RodaRock remains 🟡
Fewer playgrounds near home (this measure was retained)

📊 View before/after comparison

The big question:Most cuts were averted – this is a success of parliamentary work. But the basic structure of the HSK remains: Herzogenrath is structurally underfunded. Property tax rises, playgrounds disappear, and the deficit only falls from −€19.03 million to −€15.37 million. The coming years will show whether the city implements real structural reforms – or whether the next cuts follow in 2027.

📚 Sources

Budget consolidation concept (HSK) of the city of Herzogenrath 2026– measures 2, 10, 17, 20, 22, 48, 70-71 (pages 3, 7, 13, 15, 17, 27, 31).
Budget resolution of the city of Herzogenrath of 15.06.2026– Modifications in HFWA by all factions: OGS fees, club subsidies, OGS providers, RodaRock/NAF.
Urbistat 2023:Demographic data – average age 45.8, 30.3% over 60, 16.3% U18.
baesweiler.de – “Yellow notice”:No HSK, property tax B 710% stable, trade tax 470%, €180.50 per capita.
Taxpayers' Association NRW:Tax rates 2025.
wuerselen.de:Property tax B from 575% to 850% (2024 retroactive).
cdu-herzogenrath.de (25.08.2025):Staff development, indoor pool cost explosion.

The specific euro amounts for property tax are estimates based on the adopted rate of 770 v.H. The original HSK figures (795 v.H.) are shown crossed out. Savings are calculated from the difference between originally planned and actually adopted measures.