Dresden City Council has rejected the supplementary budget for 2026 submitted by Lord Mayor Dirk Hilbert (FDP). This means that the budget freeze imposed in September remains in force for the current year. The supplementary budget was intended to at least curb a structurally growing deficit of around 144 million euros, primarily through savings of 38.3 million euros in voluntary services and postponed investments.
The Green city council faction speaks of a "deliberately accepted standstill". The CDU and SPD had unnecessarily escalated the negotiations in the run-up to the city council meeting, particularly regarding funding for the district councils and localities, said parliamentary group leader Agnes Scharnetzky to the German Press Agency. Funding for cultural promotion and youth work - for example for the open children's and youth center "Moosmutzelhaus" - was now on the line. In addition, "profiling attempts and last-minute amendments" had prevented the decision.
