Counties Call for “Agenda 2035” Government Reform

To resolve the ongoing budget crisis, the districts in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia are calling for comprehensive government reform. “The goal must be to put local government finances—as well as state finances as a whole—back on a solid footing,” said District Administrator Götz Ulrich (Burgenlandkreis), President of the Saxony-Anhalt District Council, following a meeting with his counterparts from neighboring states. 

Whoever orders should also pay

Götz called on the federal and state governments for “constitutionally mandated funding based on the principle ‘Whoever orders, pays,’ as well as comprehensive state reform in the spirit of an ‘Agenda 2035.’”»

Henry Graichen, President of the Saxony County Council, added that the counties would stand by their responsibilities—from child and youth welfare to integration assistance, emergency medical services, public transportation, schools, and roads. “However, we can only shoulder this responsibility if funding is secured on a long-term basis.” Currently, he noted, the opposite is happening.

Counties Call for Review of Social Standards

“To ensure the financial capacity of all municipalities—not just in Thuringia—in the future, the welfare state must be fundamentally reformed,” added Christian Herrgott, president of the Thuringian County Council. Social standards must be reevaluated and limited to those who actually need assistance from the state.

Germany’s municipalities have been struggling for years with rising costs, particularly in the area of social spending. In June, the umbrella organizations representing local governments warned of a deficit of nearly 30 billion euros across Germany by 2026.