The Coffers Are Empty - District Council Meeting of December 9, 2024

Ladies and gentlemen, dear members of the district council, esteemed members of the administration, dear guests, citizens, and media representatives, I hereby open the fourth meeting of the district council and warmly welcome you all with a hearty "Glück auf." At the beginning of the meeting, I would like to inform you that Mr. Michael Turm has announced his intention to take photos and audio recordings of the district council meeting. You are aware of your rights and obligations, and I have informed him accordingly. This matter was registered with me prior to the meeting. I now move to confirm the regularity of the invitation. The meeting was convened by me in a timely manner with the notification of the agenda and the necessary documents. Is there any objection to the regularity of the invitation? I see none, so I confirm that the meeting was duly convened. Next, I move to establish the quorum. Of the 55 members of the district council, 39 are present, and eight are absent with excuses. Thus, the district council is quorate. Under agenda item 2, we have amendments to the agenda and their confirmation. Are there any comments or requests for changes to the agenda from your side? I see none. I now move to confirm the agenda. If you agree with this agenda, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Any votes against? None. Thus, the agenda is confirmed accordingly. Under agenda item 3, we have the citizens’ question time. I see that numerous citizens are present, so I will familiarize you with the regulations for the citizens’ question time. This question time is limited to 30 minutes. If you wish to speak, please state your name and place of residence. Questions of general interest within the jurisdiction of the district and those not on the agenda are permitted. One question per session is allowed, with two follow-up questions related to the initial question possible. Please provide a brief, factual justification for your question. The speaking time for posing and justifying the question should not exceed 3 minutes. We may respond in writing within one month if the question cannot be answered here. In such cases, please leave your address at the front so we can respond in writing. Does any of the present citizens wish to speak? Yes, I understand. Dear Mr. District Administrator, regarding the preliminary matter: As the district administrator, you are also the chairman of the administrative board of the savings bank, correct? Now, you should first state your name. Alright, Mr. Meister. Your question is whether the district administrator is the chairman... I’m getting everything, it’s clear to read, yes? As the supervisory body of the savings bank, aren’t you embarrassed to use the savings bank’s funds here in the Naumburg district to promote subsidy fraud, expropriation, fencing, and money laundering under the title of Entrepreneur of the Year? For clarification for those present: Perhaps a district council member asked about the term you used at the last meeting, referring to deprivation of liberty by employees of the Saxony-Anhalt justice system as a tool to enforce system-organized subsidy fraud, expropriation, fencing, and money laundering for the enrichment of a private individual. This private individual, acting as an official at the Halle Regional Court as a commercial judge, was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, funded by the savings bank’s funds. This private individual, Mr. Thomas Al, has been active at the Halle Regional Court in the commercial division since 2006. When I handed you these documents, you used the term "corruption." Isn’t it embarrassing to finance such titles with the public funds of small savers? Before the district administrator responds, let me try to build a bridge, Mr. Meister, to find something new in what you’re presenting here. I believe we have already dealt extensively with your presentation in the previous legislative period, including with former district council members. The moment names are mentioned, personal rights are affected. We need to check whether this is something to be discussed in the public or non-public part and whether what you’re presenting here is accurate. The next question is the jurisdiction of the district, which I find difficult to address. Nevertheless, Mr. District Administrator, I don’t even know what to say anymore because this topic—attacking the award of an Entrepreneur of the Year prize—has already been discussed here multiple times. You keep approaching it from different angles. If you believe someone has committed a punishable offense, this is the wrong place, and the Entrepreneur of the Year award is the wrong instrument to pursue such matters. There are law enforcement agencies for that. Otherwise, there’s nothing new to say on this topic. As the chairman of the savings bank’s administrative board, I do not deal with the question of who the savings bank nominates as Entrepreneur of the Year or how a committee, which I am not part of, makes decisions together with the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung and the Burgenland district. I was not involved in those decisions. Thank you. Those interested in further details can find them online at bürgerstimme.net. Mr. District Administrator, I think I’ve provided enough paper. Are there further inquiries from the citizens of the Burgenland district? That is not the case. Then I close the citizens’ question time. Under agenda item 4, we move to the approval of our minutes. This concerns the meeting of October 21, 2024. No written objections to the minutes have been received per Section 13, Paragraph 4 of the rules of procedure, so we proceed to confirm them. Those who agree with the minutes as worded, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Any votes against? None. Any abstentions? One abstention. Thus, the minutes are approved. Agenda item 5: We hear the district administrator’s report on important district matters and urgent decisions. Mr. District Administrator, please. Dear Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen of the district council, esteemed listeners, colleagues, and guests, I begin with good news at the start of my report. Our structural development and economic promotion agency, Seeg, received funding approval on November 25 for the second funding period to address structural change in the Burgenland district. The Minister President will likely hand over the funding decisions in January, providing a solid personnel basis for continuing our activities in structural change. These activities enable the implementation of successful or potentially successful projects within regional development. This funding has a total volume of 10.2 million euros, secured through federal budget funds under the so-called "STARK" program. This program, to my recollection, is the first to also support personnel costs, making the large-scale implementation of these projects feasible. The district’s own contribution over these years is 780,000 euros, along with contributions from other shareholders of Seeg, which will continue this work in place of the structural change office. The structural change office will be dissolved as planned by the end of 2025, and its tasks will seamlessly transfer to the Burgenland district’s structural development and economic promotion agency. I would like to thank the structural change office of the Burgenland district for their highly committed and excellent work, which has helped bring structure to the structural change and advance many flagship projects. The new funding period will run for four years, from February 2025 to January 2029, with a total of 66 positions provided at the structural development agency in areas such as economic promotion, business settlement, intermunicipal industrial and commercial areas, hydrogen pipelines, and support for municipalities. Job postings have already begun, and you can view and apply for these positions on the Burgenland district’s website or applicant portal. Since we have several new district councilors, I would like to provide a final overview of the overall financing of structural change in the Burgenland district, which you can also read in the report. We have various funding pots, which admittedly create some complexity. To ensure clarity from your perspective, I’d like to address this at the end of 2024. A key milestone was the conclusion of a so-called regional justice agreement on October 28, 2022, which brought 432.5 million euros in funding to the Burgenland district—more than for any other district in central Germany. These federal funds are managed regionally, meaning we decide how they are used. This led to a landmark decision by this body on July 3, 2023, determining how these funds are allocated. In addition to the 432.5 million euros, there are 50 million euros for the construction of a hydrogen pipeline, 45 million euros from European JTF funds for the construction of the Naumburg education campus, and 90 million euros from a special program for improving regional economic structures. Additionally, under the STARK program mentioned earlier, over 15 million euros in federal funds are available for the first and second funding periods of structural change. In total, structural change brings at least 630 million euros to the Burgenland district. Further smaller-scale funding and programs are still to be collected and not yet specified, representing a significant opportunity for the region to manage this structural change. If we’re honest, given the challenges at the European, federal, and state levels, this opportunity would no longer be achievable today. Structural change now encompasses much more than just phasing out lignite. On a related note, I’d like to mention that the topic of Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) in Zeitz has reached a certain conclusion. On November 28, together with the mayor, the city of Zeitz, the Burgenland district, and the Stolpersteine for Zeitz initiative, we were able to replace the stolen and lost stones. Heartfelt thanks to the donors, who raised 53,400 euros, to the city for preparing this event, and to the students of our Geschwister Scholl Gymnasium, who created temporary 3D-printed Stolpersteine on their own initiative. I believe the thieves’ goals—whom I’d almost call robbers, not in a legal sense—were thwarted because we’ve upheld the memory of Jewish life in Zeitz and its surroundings, brought it back into focus, and promoted engagement against antisemitism. Another positive topic to report is the track works on the Unstrut railway. We often face mockery, frustration, and sometimes incomprehension when dealing with Deutsche Bahn—think of our own train journeys and missed connections. But there are also positive developments, and I consider the track works on the Unstrut railway as such. I had previously reported that the plan was to complete these works by February 2025. This timeline has now been confirmed by a letter from Deutsche Bahn’s authorized representative, Mr. Martin Walden, on December 2, 2024. Thanks to the use of heavy machinery, it will even be possible to replace an additional 2,500 defective sections between Naumburg and Freyburg, originally scheduled for a later construction phase that would have required another closure. I’ve noticed the progress myself, as work has continued on weekends and holidays, which is good news for the region and commuters. I must say, Deutsche Bahn has managed to plan the construction process and coordinate with contractors to meet the planned timeline. If this holds, I’d call it an outstanding achievement by DB InfraGO AG, the entity responsible for infrastructure, and I’d like to expressly commend our authorized representative. We’ll deal with the same individuals, Mr. Mayor Müller, regarding further questions about Saale closures in the 2025 season. We haven’t reached our goal yet, as the closure of the Saale between Großheringen and Bad Kösen for next year hasn’t been fully negotiated. We had a consultation that resulted in avoiding a full closure originally planned by the state administration office for the past season. We agreed that everything related to the 2025 peak season would be closely coordinated with us. We’re not yet at the results we need to adequately support the tourism industry and hospitality sector in the affected area. Deutsche Bahn currently plans a far-reaching closure of the Saale until the end of July 2025, which is unacceptable to us. A full closure, as originally planned for 2024, is also not acceptable for 2025. We’ve therefore appealed again to the office of the authorized representative to partially open the Saale for water tourism from April 4, at least on weekends, holidays, and bridge days, and fully open it when the season begins on May 9. I hope Deutsche Bahn will revise its plans accordingly, giving us another reason to mention them positively. Now, on the Weißensee-Zeitz railway line: Restrictions in recent years were due to staffing shortages by the operator, DB Regio AG, another Deutsche Bahn subsidiary. There was hope for improvement by December 2024, as operations will transfer from DB Regio to Abellio. However, the managing director of the local transport service company informed me that even with the new operator, the full hourly schedule between Weißensee and Zeitz cannot be implemented in December due to ongoing staffing issues. This will result in bus replacement services every two hours in the morning and forenoon, with five connections per direction per day. From 2 p.m., the hourly schedule will apply, using a modern low-floor bus. We hope that by the new year, the hourly connection will be fully implemented, and I’ll keep you updated. In the area of public transport, there’s personnel news to share. Our Burgenland district transport company has appointed Mr. Torsten Holm as an additional managing director, effective January 1, 2025, for a five-year term, as decided in the shareholders’ meeting on November 25. The current managing director, Mr. Lutz Doummer, will retire on January 1, 2026. We’ve ensured a smooth transition with a year for onboarding. Mr. Holm, currently working in Potsdam and originally from Rostock, brings high professional qualifications, and I wish him success in his new role. Thanks to the shareholders’ meeting for this joint decision. I could report extensively on the situation regarding the establishment of a battery recycling plant in Gera. As you know, there are differing positions on environmental compatibility. As the district administration, we support the position of the region and the directly adjacent areas in the Zeitz forest. From November 6 to 26 this year, we participated in a five-day discussion session by the Thuringian State Office for Environment, Mining, and Nature Conservation in Gera, presenting our position. Nearly 7,800 objections were submitted, which could not be fully addressed in those five days, so further discussions will continue online. The Burgenland district submitted a comprehensive statement in advance, particularly highlighting concerns about the flora-fauna habitat and bird protection areas in the Zeitz forest. Another significant issue, not only regionally in Gera and Burgenland but nationwide, is the search for a German nuclear waste repository. Numerous meetings have taken place in recent days and weeks, which I detail in the report. At least four sub-areas in the Burgenland district are affected, two of which have been largely investigated and classified as Category C (less suitable) or D (unsuitable). Smaller unexamined areas remain, including one between Meinersdorf and Teuchern, one between Hohenmölsen and Lützen, and one between Bad Bibra and Wölmirstedt. Categorization for these is expected soon. For the other two sub-areas, no investigations have been conducted yet, and we expect publication in a year or later. Those interested can check the Endlagersuche Navigator app for detailed information on these areas and results. Returning to the topic of structural change in the Central German Mining District, on December 3, we presented a feasibility study for a Central German Mining Museum, conducted jointly with the Mansfeld-Südharz district and funded by the Investment Bank. The goal was to connect existing sites or develop new ones significant for our industrial culture and history, preserving them for future generations. The study, available online and in the district council’s information system, is extensive. For district councilors, its findings are merely a discussion basis for the people in the region, municipal actors, and this council. You will decide which projects are implemented and how. Allow me to note that we must consider the financial side realistically. Investments and their financing are one side of the coin; the other is follow-up costs and how to manage them, which will not be easy given the budget situation at all levels. Establishing a new mining museum site at the former Deuben power plant is far from a done deal. More urgent, in my view, is the Burgenland district’s contribution to stabilizing the existing mining museum in Deuben and the Hermannschaft briquette factory. Perhaps the greatest success of recent weeks and months is the intermunicipal industrial and commercial area along the A9/B91. This intermunicipal project has made significant progress, as on November 7, the Weißensee city council and Mayor PKE, followed by the Lützen city council on November 26, decided to join the planned special-purpose association. Previously, the Hohenmölsen city council and this district council also approved joining. This creates the essential conditions for founding the special-purpose association. The areas contributed by Weißensee, Lützen, and Hohenmölsen total about 250 hectares. Teuchern’s city council decision is still pending, expected for January 2025, but will not affect implementation by the confirmed partners. The special-purpose association will jointly drive the development, planning, and infrastructure of the area. I’d like to thank all those involved in the prior information and discussions, especially the cities of Weißensee, Hohenmölsen, Teuchern, and Lützen. Public assemblies took place in Zorbau, Landendorf, Nessa, and Kranzschütz, within the future association’s area, including Hohenmölsen. There was highly interested but factual public engagement. Not everyone agreed with the decision, but in Nessa, for example, there was gratitude for the detailed explanations. I believe this is a good example of how to exchange views on a topic factually and follow a democratic process, as our city councils and this district council are democratically legitimized to make such decisions. To find workers for the intermunicipal industrial and commercial area and the broader economy, we are planning a Returnee Day on December 27, 2024, with the Employment Agency and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. It will open at 10 a.m. in the Weißensee Cultural Center and run until 2:30 p.m. Twenty-six companies have already registered. The invitation is public, but primarily targets commuters or returnees seeking jobs and wanting to return to or settle in the region, which has generated significant media interest. On the topic of the payment card for refugees, there’s not much but important news. We’ve started introducing the payment card in the Burgenland district. The migration agency will issue the first 20 cards on December 19 for asylum seekers and tolerated persons, along with further usage information. We will gradually provide all affected persons with cards in the coming payment weeks. The card terminals have arrived from Saxony-Anhalt, and online training by the service provider has been completed. Regarding Ukrainian war refugees, the numbers haven’t changed significantly since my last report, so I won’t elaborate further. The same applies to language courses and refugee intake in the Burgenland district, where there are no significant changes to report, so I refer you to the written report. On the topic of assemblies in the Burgenland district, this report is detailed because we look back to 2020 to show the development of assemblies. This year, we’ve accompanied 332 assemblies as the assembly authority—more than one per day on average, as the statistics end on November 28, 2024, with December still pending. The reasons for these assemblies are detailed in the report. I’d like to highlight an action by our health department, which is significant for us all: the 2024 Heart Weeks. Everyone has a heart—most on the left, though some, biologically, have it on the right. Strengthening the heart is an important topic. We participated in the nationwide Heart Weeks from November 1 to 30, 2024, with our health department hosting events, including yoga taster courses with a fitness studio and other activities. Please share these events via your social networks to reach as many people as possible. The labor market situation in the Burgenland district is stable. The number of unemployed has decreased by 91 compared to the previous year—not earth-shattering, but encouraging. Compared to other districts and cities in Saxony-Anhalt, our unemployment figures have developed the best, with nearly no change, unlike a 6.9% increase in the Harz district. This is reflected less in citizen’s income, where numbers move similarly. I won’t detail the social welfare office’s benefit figures but highlight significant issues in processing stationary care applications due to a sharp rise in cases. As of October 31, there are 1,457 beneficiaries, plus 153 for outpatient and semi-stationary services, with processing times of eight months or more. These long periods are manageable only because care facilities and providers show understanding. The reason is the exploding number of applications due to high care home costs, meaning more people rely on social welfare as pensions rise only slightly while care rates soar. The district council report includes details on numerous construction projects, especially our major projects. I’d like to highlight one briefly, as we’re nearing completion: the Bad Bibra children’s home. Construction began in October 2023, and we’ll likely finish by the end of Q1 2025, when the facility will start operations. This will be the first children’s home we operate ourselves, through our education and cooperation agency, to meet the high demand for care places in the Burgenland district. Even local facilities face nationwide demand, so we can’t guarantee local children get these places, hence our decision to run our own home. In closing, as we’re at the end of the year, I’d like to thank you for the cooperation with the district council and its committees, which has always been professional. I believe we can look back on 2024 with some achievements. The financial situation, which I haven’t addressed yet, will be less pleasant under the final public agenda item, but for now, heartfelt thanks and a happy Advent and Christmas season. Thank you, Mr. District Administrator. I’d like to add that the district administrator’s report is already available in the council information system. We now move to agenda item 6: inquiries regarding the district administrator’s report. Are there any inquiries? Mr. K, please. I have the following inquiry, Mr. Ulrich. You mentioned that costs are exploding due to numerous social welfare applications for care homes and similar issues. You also mentioned Ukraine but didn’t provide exact figures. I’m interested, given that 433 people without other claims for health coverage are receiving social welfare benefits, of which 13 are German and 413 are refugees. This involves a so-called legal status change. Normally, one would assume a refugee arriving here is covered by the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act. I don’t understand how this legal status change works—how someone under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act transitions to another legal framework, leading to millions in unspent funds from the PVG being allocated here. I can’t comprehend how, of 100% of these cases, only 3% are German, and the rest are Ukrainians or others. Could you explain? I believe you’re referring to an agenda item still to come, and I didn’t quite grasp your question. Is it okay if we address it under that agenda item, or do you want to clarify now? I’d like to know how it’s possible for someone under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act, in terms of financial and health insurance matters, to undergo a legal status change, resulting in so many people moving to another legal framework. I don’t understand. Refugees arriving in Germany fall under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act and receive corresponding benefits, which differ from citizen’s income. In Saxony-Anhalt, these benefits are covered by lump-sum payments from the state, with final adjustments so that the district budget isn’t directly affected. To simplify: as long as someone is under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act, their benefits, including the future payment card, don’t burden the district budget but the state budget. A legal status change occurs when someone is no longer an asylum seeker but receives a positive decision from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, becoming a recognized refugee. At that point, they transition from the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act to Social Code II, receiving citizen’s income. For Ukrainian war refugees, there’s a special regulation. They didn’t need to apply for refugee status; they were granted it by law. The federal legislature decided that, from June 1, 2022, all Ukrainian war refugees would transition from the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act to Social Code II, receiving citizen’s income. This special rule, which the district council association and we districts opposed, impacts the district budget. I’d prefer not to elaborate now, as we have a specific agenda item for this. Thank you, Mr. District Administrator. Any further inquiries on the report? None, so I close this agenda item and move to agenda item 7: the appointment of honorary district councilors. The resolution was discussed in the district committee and recommended. The resolution document has been provided. Any inquiries or comments? I see none. The resolution is before you, and I ask for a show of voting cards to confirm. Thank you. Any votes against? One. Any abstentions? None. Thus, the resolution is passed by majority. Agenda item 8 is the election of alternates for the two representatives of the Burgenland district in the Halle Regional Planning Community, proposed by the district’s municipalities. The district committee discussed and noted that Mr. Jens M is no longer available, so Mr. Marcel Schneider and Ms. Monika Tretner are up for election. Per Section 36, Paragraph 2 of the Saxony-Anhalt Municipal Constitution Act, elections are secret and by ballot, but open voting is possible if no member objects. Any objections to open voting? I see none, so we can vote openly. First, I ask for your vote for Ms. Monika Tretner. Please raise your voting card for yes. Thank you. Any votes against? Please lower your cards. Now the votes against? [Applause] That’s 15. I must ask you to confirm the yes votes again with your voting cards, as this is an election. That’s 29, achieving the majority for Ms. Monika Tretner. We now do the same for Mr. Marcel Schneider. For yes votes, please raise your voting card. That’s 32. Votes against? 14. Any abstentions? None, as this is an election—yes or no. Thus, the majority is achieved for Mr. Schneider. I confirm that both Ms. Monika Tretner and Mr. Marcel Schneider are elected. Agenda item 9 is the nomination of representatives and their alternates for the Rural Area Working Group from the district council members. The district committee proposed: for the AfD faction, representative Ms. Lydia Funke, alternate Ms. Astrid Brauner; for the CDU/FDP faction, representative Mr. NY Haug, alternate Dr. Karin Reglich; for the SPD/Left faction, representative Mr. Andreas Burmeister, alternate Ms. Kerstin Sachler. Any further proposals? None. The district committee suggested voting on the representative and alternate pairs together. Any objections? I see none. Per Section 56, Paragraph 6 of the Municipal Constitution Act, positions are filled by voting in alphabetical order. Candidates are appointed based on the number of votes received, provided they achieve a majority of present voting members. In case of a tie, a lottery decides. I will now put the three pair proposals to a vote one by one in alphabetical order. First, for Mr. Andreas Burmeister as representative and Ms. Kerstin Sachler as alternate, please raise your voting card for yes. That’s 31. Any votes against? None, only votes for. Next, for Ms. Lydia Funke as representative and Ms. Astrid Brauner as alternate, please raise your voting card for yes. That’s 17. Now for Mr. NY Haug as representative and Dr. Karin Reglich as alternate, please raise your voting card. That’s also 31. Thus, appointed to the Rural Area Working Group are Mr. Andreas Burmeister with Ms. Kerstin Sachler as alternate and Mr. NY Haug with Dr. Karin Reglich as alternate. Agenda item 10 is the proposal list for appointing judges for social welfare and asylum seekers’ benefits matters for the term 2025–2030. The district committee recommended the resolution. Does anyone wish to speak? Mr. Zimmermann, please. Oh, I must remind you to speak into the microphone, as these sessions are recorded, and it’s only captured if the green light is on. I’m not familiar with all the individuals on the list, so I’d have to abstain. Would it be possible in the future for these candidates to present themselves briefly at the district council, explaining their motivation for the position? That’s certainly possible in principle, but we must consider that these are volunteer candidates, half of whom may not be selected by the judicial election committee. The more hurdles we create, the harder it is to find candidates. I wouldn’t recommend it for these reasons, but it’s not ruled out. If the district council wishes to summon candidates, it’s feasible, though we haven’t done so in the past due to the limited number of candidates. Thank you, Mr. District Administrator. I’d ask the faction to discuss whether this proposal has majority support. Ms. [Music]. We had the same issue in our faction—the résumés provided were very brief. We’d support a deeper insight into the candidates, not necessarily to meet them but to understand them better. Any further comments? None. We now move to the vote. The resolution is before you. If you wish to vote yes, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Votes against? 16. Abstentions? Three. Thus, the resolution is passed by majority. Agenda item 11 is the appointment of members and their alternates to the administrative board of Waste Management Saxony-Anhalt South/East. This involves a replacement at the request of the CDU/FDP faction. I’d like to clarify the resolution text, as the last sentence is confusing: it states that Mr. Schack is stepping down, which isn’t entirely correct. Instead, Mr. Meniger is appointed as a member in place of Mr. Menike, who, on the CDU/FDP faction’s proposal, will act as an alternate for Mr. Stefan Herzer. Is that correct? Yes, that’s correct. The last sentence is confusing, so I suggest striking it. As the proposer, we agree. Any questions on this resolution? I see none. With the amended version, please raise your voting card for yes. Thank you, that’s many. Votes against? I see one. [Music] Abstentions? One. Thus, the resolution is passed by majority. Agenda item 12 is the appointment and secondment of members to the administrative board of the Burgenland District Savings Bank. This also involves a replacement at the request of the CDU/FDP faction. I propose clarifying by adding “as an alternate member for the group of additional members” to the resolution text. Is the proposer okay with this? I agree, and if we also strike the last sentence, it’s already gone from my copy. Understood. Any further questions on the resolution? I see none. I’ll read the resolution text to avoid confusion: The district council, on the proposal of the CDU/FDP faction, seconds Mr. Meniger as an alternate member for the group of additional members to the savings bank’s administrative board, and Mr. Schack steps down. If you wish to vote yes, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Votes against? None. Abstentions? Two. Thus, the resolution is passed by majority. Agenda item 13 concerns the service concession for the Naumburg tram through a direct award. The economic committee and district committee discussed this. Any inquiries or comments? Mr. R, please. We discussed this intensively in the first half of the year, and the consensus was that supporting and continuing the Naumburg tram was not in question. We had to conduct thorough deliberations, and I’m pleased we’ve reached an acceptable balance of interests. This ensures planning security for the Naumburg tram for the next five years without causing imbalances in the district. The idea is to financially support the transport services provided by the Naumburg tram, which the PVG would otherwise have to provide if the tram ceased operations—an outcome no one wants. This point, with the subsidies outlined as “anyway costs,” creates a good foundation where both parties can live with the arrangement. The escalation clause, based on public transport costs in the PVG, ensures reliability, allowing the Naumburg tram to continue operations while avoiding imbalances in city transport across the three main centers. The CDU/FDP faction will vote in favor. Thank you. This decision follows a long history, and I won’t go into details, but it’s a not-so-easy compromise. It clarifies that the Naumburg tram is part of the district’s public transport and financed as such. It also shows we don’t view Naumburg’s city transport in isolation from Weißensee and Zeitz, reflected in financing and mileage. Our faction believes this is a legally sound compromise ensuring continuity and planning security for the Naumburg tram company. Thank you. Mr. [name], please. As a Zeitz resident, I also believe this is a good solution, with public transport well-distributed. The Naumburg tram operates as a line in Naumburg, creating a good balance, limited to five years initially, allowing us to plan together economically. Thank you. Any further comments? None. We now vote. The resolution text is before you. If you wish to vote yes, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Votes against? None. Abstentions? One. Thus, the resolution is passed unanimously. Agenda item 14 is the waste management statute of Waste Management Saxony-Anhalt South/East from February 16, 2009, now facing its third amendment. The district committee took note of this amendment. Does anyone wish to speak? None. This is a noting by the district council and requires no resolution. The same applies to agenda item 15, the fifth amendment to the waste fee statute. The district committee took note. Does anyone wish to speak? None. This is also a noting by the district council. Mr. Jen, please. On the fee amendment, could you briefly explain what constitutes the main part of this change and why it was necessary, as it’s not tied to personnel decisions or excellent economic performance? Thank you. Indeed, various components are outlined in the justification for this waste fee statute amendment. Since 2022, fees have been stable—actually longer, with only a minor adjustment in 2022. We’ve absorbed significant price increases and inflation for citizens and businesses. We could do this because, after three years of calculation, we could review everything. However, one development stands out: the CO2 levy, introduced in 2024, which wasn’t previously a factor. For next year, we expect over 600,000 euros from this component, which will rise and become the largest single cost block in this calculation. Thank you. Any further inquiries? None. This is a noting by the district council regarding the amendment statute. We move to agenda item 16, where I must declare a conflict of interest and hand over the chair to Dr. [name]. Agenda item 16 concerns prioritizing funding for expanding full-day education and care offerings for primary school children. This item was discussed and recommended by multiple committees. I must ask for further conflicts of interest. [Pause] Any questions on this item before I read the resolution? I’m new, so: this item was recommended by the education, youth welfare, and district committees with an amended annex. The annex is before you, detailing funding rates. The resolution is number 24/0062: The district council resolves to prioritize funding for expanding full-day education and care offerings for primary school children from federal investment program funds, and the district administrator is tasked with deploying the allocated investment funds per the priority list. If you agree, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Votes against? Abstentions? One. Thank you, Dr. [name]. We move to agenda item 17, the 2025 economic plan for the district roads maintenance agency. The operations committee met and unanimously recommended it. Does anyone wish to speak? None. We move to the vote. The resolution text is before you. If you wish to vote yes, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Votes against? None. Abstentions? None. Thus, the resolution is passed unanimously. Agenda item 18 is the 2025 economic plan for the Burgenland district job center. The job center’s operations committee met and unanimously recommended the resolution. Does anyone wish to speak? None. We move to the vote. The resolution text is before you. If you wish to vote yes, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Votes against? 15. Abstentions? One. Thus, the resolution is passed by majority. Agenda item 19 concerns approving over-budget expenditures for personnel costs in the social welfare office. The finance and district committees discussed and recommended the resolution. Any inquiries or comments? Ms. Elkermeister, please. Dear ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to comment on this agenda item. As a self-employed dentist since 2015, I’ve experienced the excessive use of our solidarity-funded medical services. I can explain to my patients and myself the wasteful spending of money and resources. For example, citizen’s income recipients, including war refugees and German recipients, are entitled to statutory health insurance benefits. For a full upper and lower jaw restoration, costing 6,000 euros, their personal contribution is zero. Additionally, no expert opinion is required for citizen’s income recipients, including Ukrainians, and approval from health insurance is granted instantly. In contrast, a pensioner or worker receiving the same treatment would also face 6,000 euros in costs but a personal contribution of 2,500 to 3,000 euros, plus a three-week wait for approval and often an expert opinion. My question is: municipalities are financially strained for medical, dental, and therapeutic services. Can we limit this, as I don’t believe luxurious care is necessary when simpler options suffice? In the past, social welfare offices sent experts to assess and approve simpler treatments. Why do people who don’t contribute to the social system receive the same or better benefits, with no personal contribution, compared to those who work? Thank you, Ms. District Councilor. Your comments refer to people who are either covered by statutory health insurance or, as asylum seekers or tolerated persons, claim benefits. You mentioned Ukrainian citizens receiving different treatment under the legal framework, with immediate access to statutory health insurance. This resolution doesn’t address those individuals. You may not have read or understood the resolution. I’d be happy to explain further. The group you’re referring to—mostly Ukrainian war refugees—transitions to citizen’s income due to the described legal status change. They have direct access to statutory health insurance. Asylum seekers or tolerated persons are not in statutory health insurance but are covered under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act, not burdening the district budget but ultimately the taxpayer. There’s a third group, neither citizen’s income nor asylum seeker benefit recipients, who fall under our social welfare system in the social welfare office, under Social Code XII. Their healthcare costs directly burden the district budget, with no federal or state reimbursement. These are non-employable individuals, like pensioners or those unable to work, receiving basic security benefits, including healthcare equivalent to statutory health insurance but funded by the district budget. Currently, 433 such individuals in the Burgenland district have no access to health insurance or means to cover it themselves, falling under social welfare. Of these, 413 are Ukrainian, a significant increase compared to previous years, disrupting budget plans and necessitating 240,000 euros in over-budget expenditures. We can’t change this, as it’s legally mandated. We can’t reduce healthcare benefits to a minimal standard; that’s up to the legislature, not us. Thank you, Mr. District Administrator. I have two more speakers. Ms. W and Mr. [name]. [Music] In the district committee, I asked whether a wealth check is conducted for Ukrainians, which was confirmed. I was told—speculatively—that beneficiaries are asked if they have assets, they say no, and that’s it. I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s one reason we’ll vote against this resolution. Thank you. Mr. [name]. I understand that 3% are German, and many are Ukrainians or others needing help, which is clear. But the second-to-last paragraph mentions a significant increase in healthcare costs this year due to individual cases with particularly high costs after accidents. It raises questions about what conditions—accidents, cancer, strokes, or heart attacks—cause such costs. It’s staggering if one or two cases drive costs so high, and if there were more, it’d be catastrophic. If the nearly one million euros from PVG reserves weren’t available, what would happen? More debt? The Burgenland district already has significant debt and high interest payments. If the ECB raises rates, it could explode. Where would the funds for these needy individuals come from if PVG reserves weren’t used? Would the association cover it? The proposed coverage doesn’t come from PVG reserves but from repayments from our transport contract settlements, a yearly planning factor. Sometimes we pay extra; sometimes it’s cheaper, depending on operating costs like fuel and personnel. This year, the coverage proposal comes from that. If it weren’t available, we’d need another source. If none existed, it would worsen the annual result by 240,000 euros. Whether that leads to a deficit depends on many factors. Currently, we’re not taking liquidity loans. Any further inquiries? Mr. Zimmermann, please. A clarification question: I understood that Ukrainian refugees immediately receive citizen’s income upon arrival, making them automatically health-insured. We have 413 Ukrainian refugees in this context. Are these pensioners without citizen’s income entitlement, or why are they receiving this? To clarify: due to the legal status change from June 1, 2022, Ukrainian refugees either fall under Social Code II for employable individuals, receiving citizen’s income, or Social Code XII for non-employable individuals, typically pensioners, receiving basic security through the social welfare office. They’re not legally health-insured but receive equivalent care through us, funded by the district budget. Thank you. Any further comments? None. We move to the vote. The resolution text is before you. If you wish to vote yes, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Votes against? 16. Abstentions? None. Thus, the resolution is passed by majority. We’ve reached agenda item 20: approving over-budget expenditures for youth welfare. The finance and district committees discussed and recommended the resolution. Any inquiries or comments? Ms. [name]. [Music] After it was clarified that we can’t vote on this separately due to the resolution text including a partial amount, I’d like to note that we’ll reject this resolution. We fundamentally support anything related to children, but as I mentioned in the district committee, the resolution is too superficial and unclear. I requested in the district committee that it be referred to the youth welfare committee for detailed discussion, but this was rejected. Since we must vote on the entire resolution, we’ll reject it, though we generally support child-related issues. To clarify: it wasn’t rejected in the sense of discussing it in the youth welfare committee, but the referral to the responsible deciding committee—the district committee—was rejected. I assured that all listed points will be presented and explained in the youth welfare committee, not affecting today’s decision. You can rely on us addressing these issues there. That’s how I understood it, but the resolution isn’t ideal for us. My colleague Mr. [name] noted in the finance committee that it was discussed in the youth welfare committee, which wasn’t correct. For the future, it’d be good to discuss such topics in depth and vote on them separately. For the record: the finance committee is the advisory committee because this concerns over-budget expenditures, not the services or their content. These costs exceed the budget plan, so the finance committee is appropriate. Any further comments? None. We move to the vote. The resolution text is before you. If you wish to vote yes, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Votes against? 15. Abstentions? Two. Thus, the resolution is passed by majority. Agenda item 21 is the deliberation on setting the 2021 district levy for correction. The finance and district committees discussed and recommended the resolution. Does anyone wish to speak? None. We move to the vote. The resolution text is before you. If you wish to vote yes, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Votes against? 15. Abstentions? None. Thus, the resolution is passed by majority. Agenda item 22 is the first amendment to the Burgenland district’s budget statute for 2021. Any questions? None. We move to the vote. The resolution text is before you. If you wish to vote yes, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Votes against? 16. Abstentions? None. Thus, the resolution is passed by majority. Agenda item 23 is the budget statute for the Burgenland district for 2025. The floor is yours, Mr. District Administrator. Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve provided the draft budget for 2025 digitally via the information system. The treasury and municipal supervision office, under Ms. Wilke’s leadership, worked until the last minute on this draft. It was a true ordeal to compile figures with a chance of gaining your approval in the coming months. The draft shows a deficit of 12.2 million euros in the results budget, with 2 million euros covered by the results reserve, leaving an uncovered deficit of 10.2 million euros. The Burgenland district is among about 45 of Germany’s 294 districts unable to present a balanced results budget. The reasons, which I’ll address, significantly threaten municipal self-administration at the district level, as the tasks and expenditures causing this budget structure are almost exclusively in the delegated sphere—where the state assigns tasks without sufficient funding. In 2025, additional expenditures must be covered without adequate cost-covering allocations: 7.7 million euros for youth welfare, 2.4 million euros for social welfare, 2 million euros for accommodation costs in citizen’s income, and 1.4 million euros for public transport, which is also a self-administration task. This shows why nearly all German districts are in financial distress. We can no longer bear the imposed financial burdens in the social sector, leaving insufficient funds for schools, education, digitalization, and road construction. Fortunately, the Burgenland district can offset many investments through structural change funds mentioned earlier. Most districts in Saxony-Anhalt, central Germany, and Germany lack such investment budgets, and without them, the situation in Burgenland would be bleak. In contrast, state allocations under the financial equalization act decrease by 2.4 million euros. Another key funding source is the district levy, raised from member municipalities to cover needs not met by other revenues. The draft budget applies differentiated levy rates, averaging 34.896%, a 1.828% reduction from 2024. Using an optimization calculation based on municipalities’ financial capacity, six different levy rates were determined for general allocations, trade tax, property tax A, property tax, income tax, and sales tax. The absolute levy amount rises by 17.4 million euros due to increased levy bases, which grew by 61.4 million euros, mainly from higher municipal trade tax revenues based on 2023 tax strength figures and 2024 key allocations. Due to numerous court rulings, the Burgenland district, like in previous years, conducts an extensive deliberation process without legal basis. The preliminary evaluation of municipal financial data results in this draft, forcing us to lower the levy so much that we cannot balance the budget, requiring another consolidation concept. Municipalities can now comment on the levy rate and budget draft, with their arguments factored into the deliberation, part of the budget statute decision. Proposed investments for 2025 total 3.6 million euros, with 2.7 million for road construction and 25.9 million for structural projects like the Weißensee education campus, Pesterlöz School in Zeitz and Hohenmölsen, the Burgenland district emergency response center with integrated control center, and the Naumburg education campus. On debt: through partial debt relief and years of avoiding new loans, the debt level dropped from 90.8 million euros in 2007 (437 euros per inhabitant) to 37.3 million euros by year-end (212 euros per inhabitant). This path can’t continue. The 2025 draft includes 11.53 million euros in investment loans and 3 million euros in repayments, leading to 8.5 million euros in new debt. The budget decision is scheduled for the March 10 district council meeting, depending on you. I ask for careful review, constructive discussion in factions and committees, and we’ll submit a consolidation concept for the uncovered deficit. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. District Administrator. We move to the vote. The resolution text is before you. If you wish to vote yes, please raise your voting card. Thank you. Votes against? 15. Abstentions? One. Thus, the resolution is passed by majority, and the budget draft is referred to the committees. Agenda item 24 addresses maintaining and improving transport connections in central Germany, a motion by the CDU/FDP faction not yet discussed. Any comments? Ms. S, please. Dear Mr. Chairman, colleagues, we heard in the district administrator’s report the challenges of negotiating with Deutsche Bahn. We all know how important it is for the Burgenland district, its main centers, and economic areas to be well-connected. We’ve followed the public discussion with concern, so it’s important to back our district administrator. If it’s not clear how strongly we stand behind this, it’ll be harder in the future. Our motion is prepared accordingly, and I ask for approval to discuss it further in the committees. Thank you. The proposer requests referral to the committees, so no further discussion or decision today. The resolution will be addressed in the next meeting cycle. The economic committee is proposed. Ms. Simon, confirmed. Thank you. This agenda item is closed. We move to agenda item 25: announcements and inquiries on district matters. A reminder to regularly sign the attendance lists, crucial for your reimbursement and establishing quorum and majorities. Any inquiries? Mr. Haug, please. Thank you. I refer to the budget planning discussion and the tight finances, which we all know. I can only emphasize that we must address the root causes. I wish everyone a peaceful Christmas, and I hope you understand what I mean—it’s been my stance on this conflict. But that’s not why I’m here. As a mayor, I must make payments like every other mayor or lord mayor here. There’s a current discussion, which I heard on the radio, from our state regarding key figures. We face issues with kindergartens, which in rural areas are often underutilized, while in cities, they’re full with insufficient staff. Lowering these key figures would negatively impact us. I urge all state parliament members and those with influence to advocate for smart solutions, not just lowering figures, which would be a serious mistake. Thank you, Mr. Haug. Any further comments? [Music] Dear ladies and gentlemen, an issue has concerned me for years: the Kunau stream in the Zeitz and Lützen areas. Since last year and the year before, we’ve been in talks with the maintenance association and the district’s environmental office. The stream has been artificially sustained by the Mibrag for about 100 years, so we know the required and provided inflow quantities, ruling that out as a factor. The issue is that the maintenance association isn’t fulfilling its duties, as the stream sometimes lacks water for weeks or months. This causes adjacent ponds to dry up, fish to die, and problems for Zeitz’s container sewage plants, which require a mixing ratio with water for their operating permits. I ask for clarification on how to ensure the maintenance association acts proactively, perhaps through the district’s environmental office, to maintain a steady stream flow in the protected landscape area. Thank you, Mr. Mende. The request is noted. Mr. District Administrator, any comments? We’ll address this. On December 5, we had a meeting with the maintenance association and the lower water authority, discussing the causes of the missing water quantities. I suggest evaluating this inspection with you and Dr. Körner’s department. She could’ve said more today if not ill. We can offer a joint discussion to investigate the causes of the water disappearance and the maintenance association’s obligations. If permits are needed from us, we’ll issue them. Agreed? Thank you. Any further comments? Mr. [name]. Regarding the emergency medical service, particularly paramedic provision in the Burgenland district: since 2015, Saxony-Anhalt law requires hospitals to provide paramedics unless exempted by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians for lacking emergency care, surgery, anesthesiology, or intensive care. I regularly check which hospitals are exempted, as we have a significant paramedic provision issue. The state government, with data from the association, responded that no exemptions were granted, yet the SRH Klinikum Burgenlandkreis doesn’t participate and is in a legal dispute. All hospitals must provide paramedics unless exempted. It’s problematic if two of the district’s three hospitals don’t provide paramedics, with only the Asklepios Klinikum participating. What impact does this have on paramedic provision, and what’s the district’s stance as the emergency service provider? The Burgenland district’s responsibility is planning the locations for ambulances and paramedic vehicles to ensure compliance with rescue timeframes. The specific staffing is handled by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. We provide the infrastructure or contract providers to do so, but the personnel comes from the association. If hospitals don’t meet this obligation and aren’t exempted, it jeopardizes paramedic provision. We know from discussions in Saxony-Anhalt that paramedic provision is challenging, and other options are being discussed, which districts reject to ensure equivalent living conditions in urban and rural areas. I’ll take this up with the association and SRH Klinikum. If there’s a legal dispute, we’re not involved, but the association likely is. It’d be good if the hospital continues participating in emergency care. Thank you. Any further comments? Mr. Karl. I’d like to ask whether structural change funds are used for wind power industry facilities, and if so, how much was spent in 2024 or is planned for 2025? I can say that we don’t fund or invest in such projects from the budgets I described. No funds are allocated for wind power facilities. You can review our 2023 resolution for a full overview of projects—none include wind power. Nothing is planned in that direction. Also, in past approval processes for wind power facilities by the emissions protection authority, was rotor blade abrasion considered? Studies show this abrasion, from blades 50–70 meters long, can endanger humans and animals, causing respiratory issues or worse due to highly toxic softeners like Bisphenol A. Was this considered in past approvals? Thank you. Any further inquiries? [Name]. At the October meeting, I asked about Mr. Meister’s statements during question time regarding corruption allegations. You said you’d look into it. At the last meeting, I asked again, and you said you’d check the protocols but haven’t responded. I’m sure I asked clearly about your stance on these corruption allegations. A single sentence—whether it’s nonsense or not—would suffice. I don’t want to upset anyone. Thank you, noted. Any further inquiries? Ms. [name]. I have an inquiry about the Arche Nebra. To what extent is the district involved in setting entry prices? Can pensioners be included in discounted prices, as they’re currently not listed? Entry price decisions are made by Kulturbetriebe Burgenlandkreis GmbH, wholly owned by the district. The shareholders’ meeting, a select group, recently met. I can pass this on as a suggestion to the managing director, Ms. Danön. Any further announcements or inquiries? None. I close the public part of our meeting, thank our wonderful listeners and viewers, and wish you a pleasant evening.