Looming Crisis: Warngau's 2025 Municipal Budget Forecasted as Near Catastrophe
Warngau Municipality Budgets Under Strain Amid Staffing and Funding Challenges
By Katrin Hager
Warngau, Germany - The municipality of Warngau has approved its 2025 budget under trying circumstances, with a single council member voicing dissent. The town is grappling with a lack of funding and an absence of a business manager, exacerbating their fiscal pressures.
Since December, Warngau Town Hall has been without a business manager and treasurer. Despite an advertisement for the position, no suitable candidate was found. Consequently, the municipality's finances are being managed by the town hall's cash box. The 2025 budget, along with the financial plan for the years 2026 to 2028, was prepared after private consultations in the town council and reviewed by the district office. Town council member Johanna Heinzinger presented the figures in a subsequent public meeting.
Warngau begins from a favorable position, having just €515,000 in debt (equating to €106 per resident), primarily from a zero-interest loan for social housing in Osterwarngau. Warngau will repay €114,500 of this loan in 2025. The municipality boasts reserves totaling €6.63 million, although €6.47 million of this sum is earmarked for affordable housing construction. A sum of €400,000 is planned to be added to this reserve in 2025, but no significant increases are anticipated.
Pending investments include the construction of a new fire station (up to €4.5 million by 2028), a kindergarten in Wall (up to €3 million by 2028), and renovations to the Warngau school building (up to €150,000 by 2026).The school building requires repairs to a damp wall and access to the gym and gym floor. Mayer Klaus Thurnhuber (FWG) explained these requirements upon request.
The municipality does not plan to take on any loans. Instead, it intends to fund its plans through the sale of real estate in Birkerfeld II. Thurnhuber expressed optimism that the first proceeds from these sales will be received this year, following discussions with potential buyers.
Warngau will receive €115,000 in key allocation this year (compared to none in 2024), and will pay approximately €600,000 less in levies to the district than in 2024. The municipality's financial strength will be adjusted accordingly, offering some breathing room.
Council members criticized the budget, as suggested savings measures would be insufficient to address the municipality's challenges. Anton Bader (FWG) urged the abandonment of non-essential projects such as pump track and cycle path construction to save funds. Only Johann Gillhuber (Draxlhamer List) voted against the budget, voicing concerns about daycare expenses. Florian Rank (FWG) cautioned that increasing state requirements may eventually strain the municipality's resources to breaking point.
The financial management of Warngau Municipality, currently void of a business manager and treasurer, is being handled by the town hall's cash box due to the absence of a suitable candidate. The municipality's finances, strained by funding challenges and staffing shortages, are under scrutiny as they implement their 2025 budget and financial plans for the subsequent years.
