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The die is cast! Pack it up, put it away! That’s it! – District Council Meeting of the Burgenlandkreis on 30 March 2026“I don’t know what it means” – that thought inevitably comes to mind when I try to summarize the district council meeting of 30 March 2026. Somehow, in the end, one thing above all remains: a large amount of cognitive dissonance 
Without claiming completeness (the video will follow later), here are a few lines summarizing the “super great” district council meeting of the Burgenlandkreis. Replacement after the death of Rüdiger ErbenThe meeting began with an addendum regarding the departure of Rüdiger Erben (SPD). Ms. Kerstin Sachtler (District Council faction SPD/Die Linke) said a few words. The death of Rüdiger Erben had left a gap. She would now take his seat but could not fill his place. Within the SPD ranks, a new district council member thus moved up.Citizens’ question time or citizens’ question deflection?Once again, the citizens’ question time turned into a citizens’ question deflection hour. Mr. Meißner would have liked to receive more information regarding his supervisory complaint and professional oversight complaint. Mr. Aßmann (head of the Jobcenter) explained that Mr. Meißner had been sufficiently answered.However, Mr. Meißner is of the opinion that an authority that caused the problems cannot simultaneously be the proper body to process a complaint against that same authority. That should be the responsibility of the chief administrative officer. Yet the chief administrative officer – District Administrator Götz Ulrich (CDU) – apparently sees things differently. Live stream with startup problemsThe live stream on YouTube, produced by BLK Regional TV, only begins with my question during the citizens’ question time. The introduction to my question is still completely missing. Apparently someone forgot to make the crucial mouse click at the start of the district council meeting to launch the livestream.In between, the audio is also missing repeatedly. That, of course, is another way to ensure that citizens would rather not watch such livestreams in the first place. Short answer from the District AdministratorRegarding my question, the District Administrator kept it brief and stated that he rejects the allegations regarding possible criminal offenses. My question would be answered in writing. I am curious about that.Committees are reappointed – details remain unclearDue to the gap created by the passing of Rüdiger Erben, several resolutions were passed to reappoint members to various committees. However, it was not stated who exactly would take which committee seat.Interested citizens are therefore left to gather this information themselves somewhere on the internet. “Our democrats” still seem uncomfortable with publicity and transparency. Population forecast: a shrinking districtThe remarks by the much-loved District Administrator Götz Ulrich (CDU) were interesting. Among other things, he reported that according to a forecast by the state government, the Burgenlandkreis will lose around 21 percent of its population by 2040.Currently, around 178,970 residents live in the district. In 15 years, that would mean roughly 37,000 fewer people. This forecast apparently shocked the District Administrator, which is why he commissioned a counter-forecast. According to this, there will be “only” 12 percent fewer inhabitants. That would be about 20,800 fewer people than today. Instead of roughly 141,000 inhabitants, about 158,176 people would still be living in the Burgenlandkreis. Well, if that isn’t reason enough to calm down. District Administrator Götz Ulrich (CDU) said it would be better to plan and calculate with the 12 percent population decline. Perhaps a member of the district council might ask what this study, commissioned by the District Administrator from empirica AG, actually cost – especially given the strained budget situation. The big topic: money, deficits, and the district levyThis brings us to the central topics of the evening: the district levy that cities and municipalities must pay to the district, as well as the deficits of the municipalities and of the district itself.The mayors who sit on the district council were therefore allowed to vote on the fact that the deficit of their own cities and municipalities will not develop particularly positively because the district needs more money. The district will still show a deficit of around 22 million euros, which is supposed to be paid off somehow over the coming years – with a shrinking population. Deletion in the concept – and everyone agreesIt was also interesting that a point had previously been removed from the budget consolidation concept. This concerned student transportation for class trips and similar events.It was criticized that students who travel to school by bus receive a Germany ticket, while other students do not. This is perceived as discrimination, for example during class trips. This point was ultimately removed from the budget consolidation concept – unanimously. The District Administrator also voted in favor. However, one might ask why this point was included in the concept in the first place under the District Administrator’s aegis if he then votes for its removal himself. Petition by the District Administrator to the federal governmentDistrict Administrator Götz Ulrich (CDU) also asked the district council members for support for a petition. The federal government (CDU and SPD) should provide more money to districts and municipalities.He is calling for two percent of VAT revenues to go to districts and municipalities. Interestingly, there is currently also a discussion about a possible increase in VAT by two percent. If that isn’t a coincidence. Asking instead of demanding?In any case, the District Administrator needs the support of the district council members so that he can apply a bit more pressure when begging for more money from the party to which he himself belongs.Malicious tongues would probably ask whether the District Administrator sees himself more as a subordinate organ of the federal and state governments – and therefore politely inquires whether their high excellencies might perhaps take note that the lower folk are losing their financial foundation. Even more malicious tongues would say: go there and bang your fist on the table. Make it clear that this doesn’t work like this. Demand a fundamental change in policy. But of course those are very malicious tongues. In this “democracy of ours,” one ultimately submits to the will of the highly elected. IKIG – industrial zone of future disappointmentsThe IKIG – the intermunicipal industrial area – was also mentioned. Here, funding of around 124 million euros is in prospect.Given the forecast of a shrinking population and the continuing deindustrialization of Germany, one could certainly question the sense of it. The district administration, of course, does not. After all, IKIG creates jobs. Strictly speaking, it has already created jobs: several people are already employed in the special-purpose association to plan, organize, and produce documents. The question of land pricesSven Jähnig (AfD) asked, after expropriation of landowners had been ruled out, what would happen if the owners demanded prices at which the entire IKIG concept would no longer be viable.The companies that are supposed to settle there – which currently do not even exist yet – would presumably not pay such prices. The 124 million euros in funding could then very quickly no longer be sufficient. The answer was that a study should be created to determine what the land might be worth. Apparently it has not yet been recognized that this question is actually irrelevant, because in the end the landowners determine the price. In cases of expropriation and compensation, around 7.50 euros per square meter are often assumed. However, for areas used for wind turbines, prices of around 49 euros per square meter are also common. It will probably take a few more years until this reality is fully recognized. In any case, there are not supposed to be any expropriations of landowners for the IKIG. A tired oppositionOverall, I would have liked to see a bit more momentum – for example from members of the opposition, as one is used to seeing in the Bundestag or state parliament.However, it is possible that the opposition members have by now become just as resigned and depressed that they refrain from presenting counterarguments, at least for the public. In the end, they are regularly outvoted by “our democrats” anyway. And so the Titanic Burgenlandkreis continues on its course. Author: AI-Translation - Michael Thurm | |
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