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Kulmbach's district administrator: Missing millions in donations from Munich are disappointing!
Kulmbach only receives 370,000 euros in support from Bavaria, District Administrator Söllner expresses disappointment at the little help.
Kulmbach's district administrator: Missing millions in donations from Munich are disappointing!
The financial situation of the municipalities in Upper Franconia is a source of plenty to talk about. The Free State of Bavaria recently announced that it would send almost 40 million euros to support municipalities in the region. But not all districts benefit equally. While a total of 33 towns and communities in Upper Franconia received over 32 million euros, the Kulmbach district only went home with a meager 370,000 euros for the community of Harsdorf. Of course, this achievement does not go unnoticed.
District Administrator Klaus Peter Söllner clearly expresses his disappointment about the inadequate support. “It cannot be the case that our region of all places receives so little help, while neighboring districts such as Bamberg and Forchheim collect over 7.4 million euros,” said Söllner. He wonders why the Kulmbach district's financial situation is not considered worrying. The support measures apparently do not reflect the actual needs that the communities in Kulmbach have to cope with.
Needs-based allocations?
The needs allocations, which according to the Bavarian State Ministry of Finance are allocated according to the specific tasks of cities, municipalities and districts, are intended to help create equity and solidity in the financial situation of the municipalities. Repayable bridging aid is specifically intended for municipalities with trade tax losses or unclear financial bottlenecks. Stabilization aid has been available for structurally weak municipalities, including Kulmbach, since 2012. However, these require a fiscal consolidation course and are often challenging.
The fact that no significant changes to the allocation of needs and stabilization aid for districts are planned in 2025 only increases concerns in Kulmbach. Unfortunately, the support expected from District Administrator Söllner is not forthcoming. Deadlines for submitting applications make it clear that it is important to seek financial support in a timely manner. Counties had until May 20, 2025 to submit their applications; for cities and municipalities belonging to the district, the deadline was April 17, 2025.
Digital application process
An important note for communities: Applications must now be submitted digitally. The Bayernportal explains the customs in detail. The district offices are responsible for this and must then forward the applications via the district government. It remains to be hoped that these bureaucratic hurdles do not lead to further delays.
Overall, it is clear: there is still a lot to do for the municipalities in Upper Franconia to master the financial challenges of the future. The Kulmbach region, longing for more support, can only hope that the upcoming distribution committee meeting, scheduled for the end of October 2025, brings the hoped-for changes.