Clubs and facilities continue to receive funding: Halle (Saale) city council approves budget - Cuts in personnel and social services

Clubs and facilities continue to receive funding: Halle (Saale) city council approves budget - Cuts in personnel and social services

Halle (Saale) city council has approved the 2026 budget after a tight vote. The final plan includes cuts to education, social services and personnel costs, while keeping property tax rates unchanged. A last-minute amendment by the CDU, backed by the AfD and FDP, helped push the budget through by a narrow margin.

The budget review began with a line-by-line assessment to reduce mandatory spending. Officials identified €10 million in cuts for education and social services, including reductions in child welfare, housing assistance and adult support programmes. Despite these trims, associations and institutions will still receive their usual funding.

Personnel and pension costs were also targeted, deepening earlier reductions. This lowered the projected underspending from €12 million to €17 million. An extra €65,000 was allocated to the Integration Service Center, ensuring some additional support remained. Municipal housing companies will contribute €3.5 million to balance the books. Meanwhile, a planned rise in operational cost-sharing for sports facilities was delayed until summer instead of January. Voluntary subsidies were frozen at 2026 levels, matching the city’s consolidation plan. The final vote saw the CDU’s amendment pass with backing from the AfD and FDP. Their combined support secured the narrow majority needed to approve the budget.

The 2026 budget now stands with reduced spending across key areas, though some services retain funding. Property taxes remain stable, and the delayed cost-sharing increase for sports facilities will take effect later in the year. The city will move forward with €17 million less in projected underspending than initially expected.

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