North Rhine-Westphalia: Balance between financially strong and weak cities?

Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - The black-green state government is considering a new balance of interests between financially strong and weak cities in North Rhine-Westphalia when reducing old debts.

North Rhine-Westphalia: Balance between financially strong and weak cities?

Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - The black-green state government is considering a new balance of interests between financially strong and weak cities in North Rhine-Westphalia when reducing old debts. According to this, highly indebted municipalities would only take part of their cash advances, while cities that have done solid business in the past can count on investment grants, as reported by the "Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung" (Saturday edition).

NRW Municipal Minister Ina Scharrenbach (CDU) told the WAZ: "One solution could be that a basic amount is collected. Relief would then only apply from a certain level of debt per inhabitant. Or all municipalities would be involved." The state government is currently dealing with these questions. For municipalities without high old debts, there could be "compensation in the form of investment support," said Scharrenbach.

In their coalition agreement, the CDU and the Greens have committed themselves to setting up their own old debt fund in the coming year "should the federal government fail to meet its responsibilities". At the end of 2021, the NRW municipalities alone had accumulated around 22 billion euros in liquidity loans with different maturities, as reported by the WAZ. Negotiations on federal participation in the relief program are to start in the fall.

Scharrenbach made it clear that the haircut would not work without state law requirements for future municipal budgets and a greater assumption of social spending by the federal government. "That would particularly relieve the Ruhr area cities with their many long-term unemployed." In addition, the federal government can relieve cities and districts with decentralized national immigration authorities.

The often lamented appearance in the Ruhr area is not only due to a lack of money, but also to the wrong priorities in urban planning, said Scharrenbach. For example, the question of how gardens, parks and playgrounds are kept clean is often not considered.