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Offenbacher Kämmer now fears lean years after a record surplus

Offenbach ⋅ For the fourth time in a row a positive annual result, this time in an unimagined amount of 27.4 million euros, and then almost 43 million euros freely available money in the city treasury: One could almost think that golden times are dawning in Offenbach . But the opposite is to be feared, said treasurer Martin Wilhelm (SPD) when he presented the key figures of the 2021 annual financial statements determined for the municipality.

The surplus – only a significantly lower increase of 5.7 million euros was actually expected – can be explained by comparatively high tax revenues and equally strong key allocations of more than 206 million euros recently. However, the former is largely due to a one-off effect that cannot be repeated so quickly. And with the allocations from the state of Hesse from the municipal financial equalization, the city, which has supposedly become richer as a result, will have to make do with around 15 million euros less this year, said the chief financial officer.

Taken together, Offenbach will have to budget even better in the next few years and be very economical when it comes to spending money because the city’s financial situation will remain “extremely tight”. The economic prospects are very uncertain in view of the Ukraine war, rising energy prices, inflation currently at almost eight percent and higher interest rates in the foreseeable future. On the other hand, the city’s expenditures are unlikely to decrease in the next few years, according to Wilhelm.

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