How much money is the state of North Rhine-Westphalia expected to spend in the coming year? What is it for? The state government wants to provide initial answers to these questions with the 2023 budget draft. In principle, however, the SPD still sees many open questions.
Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - NRW Finance Minister Marcus Optendrenk (CDU) will present the government draft for the state budget for 2023 this Wednesday (11 a.m.). It's not just about the amount of spending in the coming year, but also about the priorities of the coalition of CDU and Greens. It is the first state budget that the new government alliance has drafted. The current state budget for 2022 was created during the government of the CDU and FDP.
SPD parliamentary group leader Thomas Kutschaty still sees many open questions in the 2023 state budget and rates the timetable for the consultation as very tight. The results of the new tax estimate are still pending. The prime ministers' conference next week could also have an impact on the state budget. "This is a plan on sight at the moment in the budget. I do not assume that the budget draft that we will then be presented this week will also be adopted at the end of the year on December 20," Kuchaty said on Tuesday. Too many parameters would change in the coming weeks.
The state parliament is also currently deliberating on the supplementary budget for the current year, with which the government intends to fulfill the first promises made in the black-green coalition agreement. The supplementary budget is about starting the same initial salary for teachers and more money for climate protection, security, flood protection and caring for refugees from the Ukraine. With the planned supplement, the state budget for 2022 is expected to increase by almost 900 million to a good 88.4 billion euros. The SPD sees the supplementary budget for 2022 as a huge opportunity to launch a state-owned relief package worth billions for families and the economy thanks to high additional tax revenue.
