Two days before the state parliament decides on the supplementary budget, the red-black-green coalition has defended the planned increase of more than 220 million to almost 600 million euros. Finance Minister Katrin Lange (SPD) pointed out on Wednesday that the majority was due to the financing of wage increases. This was necessary because the state had promised to cover the pay increase for civil servants and there had to be a readjustment for civil servants with children.
"All in all, the supplementary budget can be financed," said Lange in the Potsdam state parliament. The budget would be financed from the increase in emergency-related loans, additional income from the federal government and more money from the state's reserves. The opposition criticized the supplementary budget, the majority voted for the draft in the second reading. The final vote will follow on Friday.
The coalition is planning almost 209 million euros with the amendments for the pay rise for civil servants alone, and almost 10 million for the pay rise for the student union, theaters and orchestras. The changes also provide for 18 new posts for the Office for the Protection of the Constitution to combat right-wing extremism, 15 new posts for the central IT service provider for the judiciary due to the introduction of electronic legal transactions as well as 12 posts in the Ministry of Health and 6 posts in the State Office of Health for the hospital reform. 66 million euros are included for a financing agreement to relocate the Fangschleuse train station closer to the Tesla factory. In addition, there are around two million euros for the planning of a second location for the state fire brigade school in Wünsdorf.
