Increased Expenditures and Substantial Investments for Educational Institutions in the 2024 Budget Plan
The district of Fürth, located in Middle Franconia, Germany, presented its 2024 budget on December 11, 2023, with the motto "Consistent. Challenging." The budget, approximating 179.7 million euros, aims to address a range of projects and costs, some of which are new, while others are expansions of existing facilities.
One of the significant additions to the budget is the personnel costs, which are set to increase by around 4 million euros due to wage increases and new positions. This increase is a reflection of the district's growth and the need for additional resources to maintain its operations effectively.
Bernd Obst, who assumed the position of Landrat (district administrator) on February 5, 2024, will oversee the district's budget. His responsibility includes managing the district's finances amidst strong cost increases in many areas, such as social services, personnel costs, public transportation, and the district surcharge.
To balance the budget, the district has planned loans totaling 45 million euros from 2024 to 2027. These loans will fund various projects, including the new construction of a sports hall at Langenzenn Intermediate School, which will cost 9.95 million euros (from 2026). The expansion of the sports hall at the Zirndorf Intermediate School will cost 3.5 million euros (from 2025).
The district is also investing 8.5 million euros in the expansion of the Zirndorf Intermediate School (from 2025), and 69.7 million euros in the new construction of the Cadolzburg Gymnasium. The acquisition of room modules at Oberasbach High School, Langenzenn High School, and the Cadolzburg Support Center will cost 4 million euros, 3.02 million euros, and 4.6 million euros, respectively.
In addition to these new constructions and expansions, the district also plans to spend 9 million euros on civil engineering from 2024 to 2027, with the district bearing 5.1 million euros net.
The district's tax base has increased by 6.9 percent, making it above the average of the districts in Middle Franconia (+2.7%) and above the average of all Bavarian districts (+4.8%). As a result, the district has to pay more to the Middle Franconia district due to its increased tax base.
To address the budget gap, the district has implemented cuts and shifts, including the complete cancellation of the roof construction for bike paths and roads in 2024. This decision, along with other measures, has reduced the budget gap by more than half.
The district surcharge will be increased by 5.0 percentage points to 46.5%, adding to the financial challenges the district faces. However, the district expects key allocations from the Free State of Bavaria to increase by +0.65 million euros to around 24.6 million euros compared to 2023, providing some relief to the budget constraints.
The general renovation of the sports hall at Langenzenn High School will cost 19 million euros (from 2026), another significant expense the district must address. Despite these challenges, the district remains committed to its motto of being "Consistent. Challenging." as it navigates its financial landscape in the coming years.
