Financial crisis in Witzenhausen: outdoor pool and bus are on the brink!

Financial crisis in Witzenhausen: outdoor pool and bus are on the brink!

Around 150 citizens streamed into the gym on Südbahnhofstrasse on Friday to find out about the urgent financial situation of the city of Witzenhausen. Mayor Lukas Sittel presented the alarming figures: Trade tax revenues are recording a dramatic decline, as local companies only report profits of 15 million euros for 2025, instead of the forecast 150 million euros. This means that the city is missing 13.45 million euros in its financial budget, which makes the situation anything but rosy HNA reports.

In the midst of this dire financial situation, the only 437,000 euros that Witzenhausen received from a 300 billion euro special fund for infrastructure is hardly a consolation. A budget security concept with 17 measures for savings and fee increases is being designed, which is intended to save a total of 5.3 million euros. Fees for parking, daycare centers, cemeteries, libraries and dog tax should be raised at the same time. Times seem to be particularly tough for young families. Higher daycare fees could drive them out of Witzenhausen, as has been discussed with concern.

Rising taxes and uncertainty about leisure activities

Another problem child are property taxes A and B, which according to the proposal are to be increased to 820 percentage points instead of 555. This is part of a larger trend in the Werra-Meißner district, where 13 of 16 municipalities cannot present a balanced budget for 2024, like Taxpayer Hesse explained. Policymakers are under pressure as they are forced to fund whatever appears desirable.

However, the citizens of Witzenhausen are not prepared to sit back and relax. They demanded that the situation be actively managed and an incendiary letter be sent to Wiesbaden and Berlin. Mayor Sittel responded to the concerns and assured an exchange with the responsible representatives. Protests by North Hessian mayors are also bringing movement into the discussions.

The future of the outdoor pool and the city bus

The event also addressed the existential question of the future of the outdoor pool and the city bus. The latter causes annual costs of 500,000 euros, and Sittel was unable to give a long-term commitment to maintaining these leisure and mobility offerings. On the other hand, he presented three projects as possible financing targets: an artificial turf pitch in Kleinalmerode, a new fire station in Hundelshausen and the redesign of the pedestrian zone on Ermschwerder Straße. The decisions on fee and tax increases as well as larger projects will be made in the city council on December 16th, which is causing nervousness for many.

Finally, the event was also criticized. Many of those present expressed dissatisfaction with the form and the mayor's high proportion of speeches. Nevertheless, numerous ideas and wishes were collected on boards, including the desire for active programs for the settlement of new companies and a more family-friendly city. It remains to be seen whether these suggestions will be heard and how Witzenhausen will overcome the challenges of the coming months.