Ingolstadt can't keep up: schools in austerity mode and moves!

Ingolstadt can't keep up: schools in austerity mode and moves!

Ingolstadt is facing major challenges. Massive drops in trade tax revenue are taking a toll on the city. Due to these financial difficulties, those responsible have to implement comprehensive savings, which primarily affect the education system. According to a report by the Augsburg General A savings volume of around 30 million euros per year is planned until 2028, which means significant changes for schools.

School buildings in need of renovation are particularly affected. In order to meet the challenges, moves and new buildings are being discussed. One of the particularly ailing institutions is the Katharinen-Gymnasium. Instead of learning in a familiar and clean environment, students currently have to live with buckets set up to contain water. Some students even added a humorous touch by writing sayings on the buckets.

Everyday life at schools

While preparations for a new middle school in the northeast on the Rosner area are in full swing by 2026, the students of the Katharinen-Gymnasium are about to move there. The renovation of the current school should begin after the move so as not to disrupt school operations. The city administration has also stopped the construction of the planned special-purpose high school in Manching, which makes the situation even more difficult for students from the northern Pfaffenhofen district.

In order to reduce the financial pressure, Mayor Michael Kern has announced that he will examine savings in masks, which will also affect other schools such as the Apian-Gymnasium and the planned Mitte-West middle school in Friedrichshofen. Overcrowded classrooms are the result of increasing student numbers, while the start of construction on several buildings, such as the Apian High School, is delayed.

Financial consolidation

It's not just schools that have to make cuts. In view of the structural deficits in the clinic and the increasing material and personnel costs, Mayor Christian Scharpf has announced a second consolidation package. The city aims to balance the budget for 2025 and achieve an average of 25 million euros in relief annually by 2028. Overall, savings of up to 75 million euros are to be realized by reducing voluntary tasks and a planned reduction of 200 to 220 full-time positions.

An intergroup working group is currently working on drawing up the urgently needed draft resolutions, which should be available by March/April. This is of crucial importance for the future direction of the city, especially in the education sector. In the long term, it is hoped that this will have positive effects on the city's budget.

The situation remains tense, but the city administration has a good hand in dealing with these challenges. The savings proposals will be presented to the committees at the end of the month - the city council's decision is eagerly awaited.