Budget of the City of Wolfsburg

Part 1: The plan

• Budget statutes
• Financial plan
• Preliminary report
• Net control operations
• Staffing plan

Part 2: Table section

• Sub-budgets with investment program

Part 3: Investment report

• Investment report for the 2022 financial year

Very high revenues

After the economically difficult situation from 2008 to 2010, the local economy is prospering again. Wolfsburg is becoming the most dynamic city in Germany and has to cope with the growing population and the demands of an international business location. Thanks to high trade tax revenues, there are record budgets (for example, in 2014: 474 million euros), which include important investments, for example, in residential areas, traffic routes, daycare centers, schools and recreational facilities. In addition, reserves can be built up for bad times. The city is one of only a few debt-free municipalities in Germany. However, the high investments can hardly be worked off in the short time available.

Trade tax shortfall

As early as 2014, there were indications that the level of trade tax revenue would not be sustained. In September 2015, it became known that Wolfsburg would have to manage with significantly lower trade taxes in the medium term. The city reacts immediately with a hiring freeze and budget freeze to await further developments.

Austerity budgets

Wolfsburg must save: Running costs are being cut, investments that are not urgently needed are being scaled back or postponed to the future program. Despite lower revenues, the city is also positioning itself for the future: It will continue to invest in important areas such as education, housing, mobility and digitization. (Construction) projects that have been started will be pursued further. New laws mean that the city has to implement additional tasks. Budget deficits can still be offset by financial reserves from previous years.

Reserves depleted

Improvement is not yet in sight, the 2019 budget is planned with a deficit for the fifth year in a row. Savings have been depleted, the city is partly living on credit or can only theoretically balance the deficits (via the overall balance sheet). Structures, tasks and processes are to be put to the test, as the city will have to manage with less money in the future.

Budget optimization

In addition to the internal savings efforts, the external analysis shows where further savings potential lies. One thing is clear: the savings will bring about many changes that will be felt directly by everyone in the city. Investments in the city's future viability will be maintained (childcare, expansion/remodeling of schools, housing offensive, mobility, digitization, security).

Sustainably well positioned

In the second step, the city administration intends to modernize itself from 2020. Modern forms of organization and the opportunities offered by digitization will make the city administration even more citizen-friendly and efficient. This will enable the city to remain a top business location with a high quality of life, dynamism and excellent opportunities for the future, even with less revenue.

Investment program 2024 by focus areas

Development of material taxes and benefits

Development of payments for investments

Development of the ordinary result

Development of debt for investments

The suggestions made by citizens for optimizing the budget of the city of Wolfsburg were published anonymously. This enabled them to be included in the political discussion in time for the start of the budget deliberations. The citizens' ideas could be submitted until the beginning of January. A total of 61 suggestions were recorded in writing, by telephone, by e-mail, at the "Talking to Mohrs" event and via the Stadtjugendring (City Youth Council), which were accompanied by comments. The list of suggestions is now available for download here.

"The participation of our citizenry is very important to us. Therefore, it was always out of the question for us to also involve the citizens of Wolfsburg on the important topic of budget optimization and to ask them to submit savings proposals. We would therefore like to thank all citizens for their commitment," said City Councilor Iris Bothe.

How has the municipal budget developed in recent years?

2023

2022

2020/2021

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009