Oranienburg in the financial crisis: 28-point plan should save the budget!

Oranienburg in the financial crisis: 28-point plan should save the budget!

In Oranienburg, the budget for the current year remains a hot potato. Despite the resolutions from April, the municipal supervisory authority of the Oberhavel district did not approve the city's budget, which forced the administration and local politicians into an intensive discussion about necessary adjustments to the financial budget. The situation is worrying because an approved budget is the basis for a stable municipal financial policy. The Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung reports that the mayor has already made initial suggestions.

The parliamentary group leaders of the CDU, SPD, Free Voters, FDP/Pirates, Greens and Left came together to work out a compromise. A decisive step is the budget proposal that will be voted on next Monday in the main committee and contains 28 points. These points include important projects such as the renovation of the palace in Oranienburg, for which an upgrade of the front and inner courtyards is planned. From 2026 this will cost 90,000 euros and from 2027 a further 850,000 euros.

Important projects at a glance

Particularly noteworthy is the “Schlossquartier” project, which envisages the construction of a new event and conference center. For this purpose, corresponding planning funds of 200,000 euros in 2025 and 500,000 euros in 2026 are planned for the coming years. From 2029 a total amount of 11.25 million euros will be required. But not only high-priced construction projects are on the agenda: the construction planning for the construction of fire-fighting water extraction points for the SEZ communities costs 550,000 euros and is scheduled for 2026. However, the construction planning on Sachsenhausener Straße is being postponed due to a lack of funding, which could potentially lead to further discussions within the parliamentary groups.

Furthermore, a temporary solution for crossing aids is planned on Sachsenhausener Straße, while the construction of the Runge parking lot is also being pushed forward with 300,000 euros for 2026. There are also already concrete ideas for the construction of a municipal town courtyard, which is planned with a maximum of 14.47 million euros from 2026. However, the addition of one floor to the city courtyard was shelved.

Financial framework conditions and citizen participation

The ongoing financial challenges in Oranienburg are also reflected in the purchase of a new vehicle for street cleaning and winter service, which is estimated at 130,000 euros. Another important step is the construction of a new Park & ​​Ride car park, for which 350,000 euros are planned in 2026 and 2027 and 14.25 million euros from 2029. The construction of the new Lehnitz-Ost daycare center is also scheduled to begin in 2026, while another facility in Oranienburg-Süd is planned from 2028.

In order to continue school social work at the existing level, 1.2 million euros will be made available for 2025. These financial decisions are not without criticism. Several factions have accused Mayor Alexander Laesicke of setting the wrong priorities and not being sufficiently flexible in finding compromises. Laesicke, on the other hand, emphasizes that he is responsible for the city's financial situation and emphasizes the need for a balanced budget.

Overall, it shows how important the approval of the budget by the local authority supervisory authority is. The budget must not only take into account local self-government rights, but also meet strict legal requirements. Regulations such as the need for a budget security concept in the event of long-term problems must be taken seriously in order to avoid legal consequences and future restrictions on municipal finances. Loud Municipal Wiki Many elements in the budget are subject to approval, which further complicates the situation.

It remains to be seen whether the draft proposal that will be voted on Monday will be approved and the budget can finally be put into motion. In any case, the citizens' concerns regarding the city's financial situation and the planned projects remain in focus.