People are advocating for budgetary restraint rather than tax hikes

In the heart of Germany, the city of Lübeck is grappling with financial challenges, and the local FDP faction is expressing concerns about the proposed solutions. The FDP has voiced its skepticism towards discussions on tax increases, citing the difficulty many families face in affording vacations and the belief that further tax burdens are not part of the solution.

The city's budget has been under scrutiny for years due to an issue with uncontrolled staff growth, identified as a structural core problem. Thorsten Fürter, the faction leader, asserts that Lübeck has an expenditure problem, not an income problem, and that austerity measures are necessary to address the city's financial situation.

Fürter claims that the city has been living beyond its means, and he proposes that across-the-board cuts could help avoid difficult discussions about the savings contribution of individual areas. He also suggests that if Mayor Lindenau proposes to reduce funding for factions by 10 percent, this could serve as a model for other budget items.

The proposed budget cuts by Mayor Lindenau include reducing the subsidy for the Travemünder Week and cuts to the budget agreements for social institutions. The mayor is also applying for additional positions despite individual cuts, which is seen as undermining his own consolidation efforts.

Fürter views these cuts as a step in the right direction, but he also emphasizes the need for a multi-year break in staff expansion in Lübeck. He proposes that new staff requirements in the city should only be approved if corresponding cuts are made elsewhere.

The current deficit in Lübeck is described as worrying by Fürter, and he advocates for expenditure control as the key to putting the city's finances back on a solid foundation in the long term. The introduction of a bed tax in Lübeck is a point of concern, and Fürter argues that those who raise taxes are viewed as demonstrating a lack of willingness to save.

Citizens expect spending discipline, not tax increases, in Lübeck. Many families find it difficult to afford vacations, and further tax burdens are not considered part of the solution. The FDP faction in Lübeck has expressed its concern about the draft budget presented by Mayor Jan Lindenau (SPD). The city council will now deliberate on the proposed budget, aiming to find a solution that ensures financial stability for Lübeck.