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Economics Minister Al-Wazir is happy about the finances of the city of Offenbach – but sees unresolved problems at the main train station, the leather museum and on the job market.
When Tarik Al-Wazir (Greens) visits Offenbach Central Station, he feels like he is in another world. “I think you’re in Eisenach in 1988 and not in Offenbach in 2021,” says the Hessian Minister of Transport and Economics. In his annual report on Offenbach, where he won the constituency directly in 2018, the 50-year-old named the main station on Friday as one of the major construction sites that still need to be closed for the city and the country. “I am currently negotiating with Deutsche Bahn how we can get ahead with the buildings that are not barrier-free,” reported Al-Wazir. At the same time, a feasibility study by the city for the use of the station building is ongoing.
The minister named the as yet unsecured financing for the renovation of the leather museum as another construction site. After all, the federal government has approved funding of 250,000 euros for 2021. Al-Wazir described the situation on the labor market as a setback “that will haunt us for a long time because of Corona.” The unemployment rate in Offenbach rose to 10.7 percent in January.
On the other hand, the development of finances is positive. “We made an incredible number of decisions,” emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister. On the one hand, the state and the federal government would take over the business tax losses of 23 million euros. In addition, the Federal Council has increased the so-called costs of the accommodation, so that Offenbach will receive between 11 to 13 million euros more annually in the future – retrospectively for 2020.
The city will receive almost 30 million euros more in 2021 through the municipal financial equalization scheme (KFA), a total of 206.5 million euros. Al-Wazir said the city had a balanced budget, reduced property tax and did not have to take out any new cash loans in 2020. The minister considers that a slight increase in income from the KFA is expected annually in the budget until 2024 to be “serious”. That depends on the situation of the individual municipalities, “but the chances are great that Offenbach can get large sums”.
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