Friday, December 3, 2010

Why saving sometimes really hurts

From our editor Michael Schmitz
Higher fees, lower subsidies: 54 still secret proposals are submitted to external experts to the City Council as saving ideas for 2011. You will not always meet with reciprocal love.

Three years ago, Margot waste stream and Manfred Maxi Mini set for a warm Nordbad one - now the heat could still be stopped. TV photo: archive / Roland morning Trier. Those who submit proposals for saving power are not necessarily popular. This experience had to the green City Council Gerd Dahm, make mid-2007 when he brought the issue into play, whether it was really necessary, already at 6 clock in the Trier Nordbad to have a water temperature of 24 degrees. This has indeed been at night to pre-heat with gas, solar heating alone would not create. What followed was an outcry of indignation among the swimmers and early 2500 from Manfred Maxi Mini, the head of the Independent Citizens Movement Maxi Mini (UBM, today FWG) collected signatures for a warm Nordbad. The savings proposal was quickly off the table. Now he is back.


Mobilized and collected signatures



This time not from Dahm brought into play, but by external experts. Three employees of the Municipal Community Office for Public Management (KGSt, see extra) since early October have developed energy-saving suggestions. Overall, they can be loud Government identified more than 600 topic areas, where savings in the coming years. 54 proposals will be implemented in 2011. Details do not refer the city nor the KGSt because the discussion in the Steering Committee on Tuesday not want to prejudge - then will decide what will be included in the budget. Overall, the city could be saved with the proposals KGSt 1.6 million euros. The smallest proposed bringing 750, the largest 300 000 euros, said the press office with request to TV.

"Any proposal to put public finances take an audience anywhere," says Dirk Greskowiak, head of the division of project support KGSt who has worked in Trier on the proposals. "No matter what community, we advise: Most of our work are not at all funny." The same goes for some of the proposals that are in Trier for debate. By TV information, for instance, involves

Business tax: An increase has been discussed, but again from the table.

Fees: The fees in the municipal music school could be increased. Also on the table is the proposal to increase nursery or kindergarten fees.

Grants to independent providers: A recommendation is to KGSt TV information to reduce the subsidies from the city to free carriers (eg, social organizations or associations such as the Palais eV or the mobile game action). 200 000 € at a volume of five million euros at present is the question.

Copy Fee: For a discussion is, publishers of every student in Trier a monthly € for copies of education materials. 90 000 € extra revenue should bring the year.

Group grants: The interview is the reduction of subsidies from the city to the city council factions. The fund thus secretaries, partly CEO post. Also for the allowance of the city councils, there is a reduction proposal.

Entrance fees and user fees: Independent of KGSt list has been discussed behind the scenes, such as whether the municipal swimming pool entrance fees should be raised. Conversely, it is there, of course - and this is the proposal to KGSt - reduce material costs, in other words, for example, the water temperature in the lower Nordbad.

Everything so far only suggestions, as I said. Manfred Mini Maxi times already announced that he would watch the whole thing critically. It will not be the only response.