Fellbach (dpa / lsw) - The Baden-Württemberg municipalities see themselves in an "overload trap". The federal and state governments are constantly burdening cities, municipalities and districts with new tasks, legal rights and standards without ensuring sufficient financing, said Joachim Walter, President of the district association, on Monday at the district assembly in Fellbach (Rems-Murr district). There is an urgent need for a debate in the country about what is priority and what is secondary. "Not everything that is desirable can also be achieved."
The head of the association called on Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) to speak and decide at the highest level about reducing bureaucracy and the dismantling of standards. However, the ministries should not participate in the first step because they would only talk such proposals to pieces. "If you want to drain a swamp, don't ask the frogs." Walter proposed a working group from the state, finance and interior ministries with the municipalities.
Kretschmann was basically ready for such a debate, but warned against expecting quick success. "If you want to start lowering standards, you have to say where." And then the ministries would have to be involved immediately. "Of course, the specialist departments are the first address for such announcements." The problem is that many issues involve the federal government or even the European level. He promised to focus on reducing bureaucracy once the crisis had peaked. But Kretschmann also said that it was not the case "that the district offices were free of official mold".
