Culture and sports, pools and parks: Because of the consequences of the war in Ukraine, some municipalities want to put voluntary and social benefits to the test. The criticism of it is not long in coming.
Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) - The district council is questioning voluntary services by the municipalities because of the economic consequences of the Ukraine war. Mandatory tasks such as sewage disposal, fire protection, school building and school transport must still be fulfilled, as General Manager Alexis von Komorowski told the German Press Agency. Culture and sports, swimming pools and parks, on the other hand, were not included. "As soon as the case arises that municipalities have to make savings due to increased costs, voluntary tasks may have to be made available."
Criticism comes from the League of Free Welfare. Vice-Chairman Marc Groß emphasized the importance of these tasks: "The municipalities enable a wide range of social services, for example in child and youth welfare, in social counseling or through support for migrants, which we provide as welfare organizations." It is aid that supports citizens in difficult life situations - especially in a crisis such as the current one due to the Ukraine war.
On the other hand, the local representative von Komorowski emphasized: "Not everything that is desirable can currently be achieved." This is certainly not the case during the Russian war against Ukraine. The Baden-Württemberg municipalities have long called for an honest debate about what is really important. There is an urgent need to reduce standards, streamline procedures and noticeably reduce bureaucracy.
Groß said that priority is given to securing services of general interest with social services for large parts of the population. "Savings are therefore unacceptable in precisely these areas."
