2015 budget: Draft budget balanced for the first time in five years

"The resolutions on the budget are probably the greatest responsibility that the citizens have given us," said Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig. "I want to work with you to create a socially and economically strong, attractive and sustainable Chemnitz in the key areas of life. Keeping the city's budget in the right, far-sighted and responsible balance is the key instrument for this. With the budget, we are creating a reliable, transparent working basis that specifies which priorities we want to and can implement and when."

The guidelines, emphasised Barbara Ludwig, are the key issues for a sustainable city: intergenerational justice, quality of life, a strong economy, social cohesion, cultural and scientific innovation.

As in previous years, the focus of investment is on daycare centres and schools. Since 2009, 37 schools have been completely or partially refurbished and 23 facilities are currently undergoing refurbishment. In the same period, 24 daycare centres have also been completely renovated. "As refurbishment and expansion are still necessary thanks to rising child numbers, we want to maintain this priority." Next year, 29 million euros will be spent on schools and 6.2 million euros on daycare centres. It is fitting that the majority of the planned 47 new employees in the city administration are to be hired primarily in the areas related to these topics, 20 in the daycare centres and ten in the construction sector.

The highest single budget is the social budget at 122 million euros. In the area of youth welfare, the costs for educational assistance remain high at 24.5 million euros.

One area of focus in 2015 is sport in Chemnitz, for which an additional 2.3 million euros - totalling 11.5 million euros - has been earmarked in the operating budget. Investments will continue to focus on school gyms, the gradual refurbishment of swimming pools and stadium construction. In addition, the approved concept for the refurbishment of the sports centre is to be implemented step by step: Once the funding decision has been received, 900,000 euros can initially be used to renovate the cycling track for training operations. In addition, the concept for the main stadium is currently being further substantiated and checked for eligibility for funding. Over the next three years, 5.3 million euros in funding is planned for this. In addition, the boarding school is to be completely renovated at a cost of 6.9 million euros.

There are two reasons why the 2015 budget is balanced again for the first time: The consolidation targets that the city council underpinned with its decisions in 2011 and 2012 are bearing fruit. 34.4 million euros will be saved by the end of 2014 and thus permanently. The second reason is the stable financial foundation: the city's tax revenues are rising and unemployment is falling. Since 2009, for example, trade tax has risen significantly from 74 million euros to 111 million euros, which is expected in 2015. In the same period, income tax has increased from 40 to almost 55 million euros. The revenue from these two taxes thus rose by 52 million euros. In addition, 104 million euros in debt has been repaid over the past ten years.

"This shows that we have achieved remarkable development as an industrial city," said the Lord Mayor. Nevertheless, it is important to set the right course for a successful long-term strategy and development of the city.

One focal point is economic development: "Commercial space and modern infrastructure are location factors that are important for companies," says Barbara Ludwig. Over the next two years, 5.2 million euros have therefore been earmarked for the development of the Technology Park South and the extension of Fraunhoferstrasse to Werner-Seelenbinder-Strasse. A further 500,000 euros have been reserved for the purchase of commercial sites. Other items on the agenda include the development of the Rottluff-West industrial estate, the preparation of the Niederrabenstein industrial site, the development of the inner-city commercial site at the Produktenbahnhof railway station and the further construction of the Chemnitz model. This also includes the topic of city marketing, which is to be provided with more resources in the coming year.

The draft budget will now be discussed in the parliamentary groups before the city council votes on the budget on 25 February.