€126M funding debate: Town hall and roads on hold

City delays €126 million funding vote on town hall and road projects

After a nearly two-hour debate that grew heated at times, the Finance Committee voted on Tuesday evening to postpone a key decision on the use of the municipal special fund. The city administration had presented a list of 40 proposed measures, with a total investment volume of €126 million—€10 million of which would come from the city's own budget, while the bulk would be covered by federal funds.

40 Projects, Clear Deadlines—and Time Pressure

Thomas Stimpel, an advisor to Mayor and Finance Commissioner Egbert Geier, once again outlined the administration's approach. "We could have easily spent this money five times over," he said, emphasizing that priorities had to be set. The goal, he explained, was to deploy the funds efficiently and as quickly as possible.

The timeline is strict: All funding applications must be submitted by the end of 2026 at the latest, and all funds must be fully disbursed by 2042. However, given rising construction costs and an already strained building sector, the city aims to start much sooner.

Sticking Point: The Town Hall on Market Square

Once again, the historic town hall on Market Square became the focal point of controversy. The city plans to invest €33 million in a comprehensive renovation of the roughly 130-year-old building.

"That's a substantial sum, but absolutely necessary," stressed Martin Heinz, head of the city's real estate department. While there is no immediate risk of collapse, "no expert would guarantee that it stays that way." The building's clay foundation and the so-called Hallesche Verwerfung (a geological fault) pose particular challenges. Cracks appeared shortly after its opening, and the structure has never undergone a full renovation since its construction.

Parts of the electrical system "date back to the days of Kaiser Wilhelm," Heinz noted, with power and water lines in some areas laid together. Even a partial renovation in the 1990s was poorly executed. The city is currently working with a renowned planning firm on a feasibility study. "Based on current assessments, the €33 million should suffice," Heinz said.

Stimpel underscored the building's broader significance: "This isn't just a city council building—it's a house for the people." Last year alone, 821 events were held there, and the city generated around €300,000 in revenue from its restaurant, an optician's shop, and other tenants.

CDU Pushes to Redirect Funds—Focus on Traffic

Tensions rose further with a sweeping amendment proposed by the CDU. The party called for allocating €30 million to plan and build a southern bypass connecting the A38 and A14 highways, with an additional €20 million earmarked for extending Europachaussee.

The CDU also demanded accessible public restrooms on Market Square and continuous pedestrian and bike paths in the districts of Tornau and Mötschlich. In return, they proposed cuts to funding for the town hall renovation and the introduction of digital records (E-Akte), while calling for the complete elimination of the municipal heating plan.

The AfD backed the CDU's traffic proposals, with faction leader Alexander Raue calling them "desirable." His colleague Thorben Vierkant rejected the municipal heating plan outright and argued that reductions for the town hall were justified: "It's a nice building, but not a monument of national significance."

Sharp criticism came from Katja Müller (The Left), who dismissed the proposed cuts as "a no-go." The Volt/MitBürger group also opposed the reallocation. Müller suggested incorporating public restrooms into the town hall renovation—a potential way to combine urgent repairs with added benefits for the city center.

Postponement with Political Fallout

In the end, Tim Kehrwieder (FDP) moved to defer the decision, arguing that the debate had revealed a clear need for further deliberation. All council members except the CDU voted in favor.

Ulrike Wünscher of the CDU sharply criticized the postponement, saying, "We can already calculate how many hundreds of thousands of euros we're now losing." According to finance chief Egbert Geier, the delay costs €230,000 per month. Other committee members showed little sympathy for Wünscher's remarks, pointing out that it was the CDU itself that had submitted its extensive amendment proposal just before the meeting.