Despite corona-related restrictions, the Hessian cities see themselves on schedule with the preparations for the local elections in mid-March 2021.
The search for election workers had started well, reported the President of the City Council, Christian Geselle (SPD), on Tuesday about his city of Kassel. The municipality has raised the allowance for some time and is “well positioned”, said the mayor.
There are enough citizens who make themselves available even under the current framework, said the Mayor of Fulda, Heiko Wingenfeld (CDU). There is a general trend in the municipalities to increase the expense allowance – the so-called refreshment allowance.
The Lord Mayor of Friedrichsdorf im Taunus, Horst Burghardt (Greens), said that many young people volunteered for this task. The 100 euro refreshment money that is available in his city would also be a good incentive. The first city councilor from Rodgau (Offenbach district), Michael Schüßler (FDP), reported that long-time and rather older election workers were a little reluctant this time, probably because of Corona. In contrast, younger citizens are interested in being involved in the election. In view of the corona pandemic, the Mayor of Fulda Wingenfeld called on people to vote by postal vote in the local elections on March 14th.
According to the President of the City Council, the municipalities will hardly be able to manage without new debts in 2021 and in the following years if the federal and state governments do not grant further financial aid during the Corona crisis. It is true that both of them have already given the cities a lot of support by compensating for the loss of trade tax. “This averted a financial catastrophe, but not a slump in earnings that could not keep up with growing tasks,” the association explained. (dpa)
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