Budget draft 2025: Mettlach strengthens the local councils and democracy!

Budget draft 2025: Mettlach strengthens the local councils and democracy!

Today, on June 14, 2025, the Mettlach local council discussed the draft budget for 2025 in a public meeting. The draft is heavily influenced by the Saarland Pact and the November tax estimate from the previous year. Clear themes were the structural deficit and the financial conditions that have burdened the community for years. The pressure on the municipality's finances will increase by 84,000 euros annually until the end of 2024, which has significant consequences for budget planning.

The CDU parliamentary group leader, Michael Thieser, made a clear statement about this at the meeting. The parliamentary group submitted a motion that led to an increase in the local council budget. This measure ensures that the local councils receive their “own small budget of a significant size”. The aim of this increase is to strengthen local commitment and democratic structures, such as Saarbrücken newspaper reported.

Financial framework conditions

The first draft of the budget was significantly influenced by the tax estimate mentioned above. It was found that the trade tax assessment rate was increased by 9% in 2022 and property tax B was reduced from 430% to 360%. Personnel costs are rising moderately, around 1.1 million euros higher than in the previous year. A key challenge remains reducing the structural deficit, which is to be reduced by 10% annually since 2014.

According to information from Mettlach.de In 2025, a budget with an annual result of -2,987,144 euros and a financial budget of -1,092,170 euros is forecast. The investment allocations amount to 176,726 euros, while the maximum net investment volume for 2025 is 3,188,166 euros. The local council unanimously approved the draft budget and also decided to adopt the staffing plan for 2025.

Planned projects and measures

The planned projects include improving street lighting, building new grave fields and expanding playgrounds and a passenger parking lot. These measures were considered necessary to maintain and further improve the quality of life in the community. The obligation to repay federal funding amounting to 436,000 euros can be covered by the remaining budget.

In addition, adjustments to parent contributions for the 2025/26 kindergarten year were decided. The development plan for Orscholz had to be postponed for further discussion in the local council. A new parking space statute to regulate parking spaces in Mettlach was also passed. In addition, there were agreements on replacements on the advisory board of Saarschleife Tourism and approvals for various contracts, including for carpentry work and the reconstruction of an intersection in Orscholz.