The coalition sees social improvements, the opposition complains about unbridled spending. The debt will rise to six billion euros in the coming years.
The city councilors approved the 2026 budget with a left-wing majority and came to very different assessments of the figures in the general debate. City Treasurer Bastian Bergerhoff (Greens), who spoke at the very end of the almost three-hour debate, praised the budget negotiations between the Greens, SPD and Volt with the Left and the CDU as an example of “responsible work” in the spirit of democracy.
Verdi union is calling for a Frankfurt surcharge for municipal employees. Rally in front of the Roemer.DAGESHONORARPublication only for current reporting, in compliance with media privilege.Agreement on the assignment of personal rights of the person(s) depicted, model / product release does not exist. Photo: Renate Hoyer, 60316 Frankfurt.”/>“We cannot leave the daycare centers, the social advice centers, the cultural institutions and the clubs hanging in the air for months,” said Dimitrios Bakakis (Greens). Without a budget resolution, there is a provisional budget management without additional investment funds. “Frankfurt on standby for a whole year. Frankfurt doesn’t deserve that.”
“Frankfurt knows no limit. This particularly applies to this city’s debt,” said Nils Kößler (CDU). According to the forecast, the city’s debt will rise to six billion euros by 2029. The budget proposals from the remaining coalition and the agreement with the Left will add around 90 million euros to the budget. The city could have reduced the property tax, said Kößler, because 100,000 households now paid twice as much.
“It is a budget to enslave and bind them, to drive them to Mordor,” scoffed Ursula Busch (SPD) about the opposition criticism: “Join the federal government so that the property tax can no longer be passed on to the tenants.” The property tax reform in Frankfurt is planned to be revenue-neutral.
“The Frankfurt CDU considers these improvements for tens of thousands of people to be communist,” said Dominike Pauli (Left) with a view to an election poster with a hammer and sickle that a CDU member had put up. “This budget shows what social issues are happening in Frankfurt.” And Michael Müller (Left) added in the direction of the CDU: “It was absolutely right not to decide the budget with them, but with a progressive majority.”
“The budget is an expensive shift to the left at the expense of Frankfurt taxpayers,” said Sebastian Papke (FDP). The “spending spree” is not being counter-financed, reserves are dwindling and debt is rising.
For Mathias Pfeiffer (BFF) the figures are immature. “Anyone who accumulates six billion in debt is acting irresponsibly.” Markus Fuchs (AfD) suspects a “socialist redistribution” while the city is sinking into debt. The city must review voluntary services.
“We give a clear answer to the grievances in society,” replied Martin Huber (Volt). Jutta Ditfurth (Ökolinx), in turn, does not see the climate crisis being sufficiently taken into account in the budget. Eyup Yilmaz (BSW) recalled unresolved social problems such as child poverty and the housing crisis.
The Greens, SPD and Volt had to find a majority sponsor after the budget was introduced four months ago. The choice fell on the left. With this they are now implementing free crèches, free breakfast in daycare centers and primary schools and a labor market allowance for around 8,000 city employees. The ABG housing association is to add 10,000 social housing units.
The remaining coalition should have agreed with the CDU on greater restrictions on new debt. The CDU also campaigned for a change in housing subsidies, with municipal housing benefit instead of many new social housing units. The current resolution continues the coalition’s path, for example in property funding, i.e. the construction of social housing, said Bergerhoff. According to Bergerhoff, the agreed labor market allowance of 200 euros per month is compatible with collective bargaining law. The human resources department advocated including the labor market allowance in collective bargaining in the future.
Frankfurt’s budget for the current year has a volume of six billion euros. The city wants to invest almost 1.4 billion euros. The departments are required to save money. But what is meant by “blanket consolidation” and whether it will be implemented remains unclear.
