Budget freeze should provide clarity in the meantime

The background to this is the ongoing discussion of the 2026 draft budget in the political committees. In the main, finance and digital committee on 27 January, a broad political majority became clear that would like to discuss and prepare budget-relieving measures in the newly established "Financial Compass for Beckum" working group. So far, however, there have been no concrete political applications to cancel budget funds - not even for investment projects.

Although this draft budget shows a deficit, the administration believes that it reflects the implementation of numerous politically agreed projects. In particular, there is a considerable need for investment in schools and the fire brigade, which has been identified and agreed across all political groups in recent years and specifically reflected in the draft budget. Overall, the budget is solidly calculated.

Nevertheless, city treasurer Thomas Wulf has issued a budget freeze in consultation with Mayor Michael Gerdhenrich. "The freeze is not necessary due to the current budget situation, but is a consequence of the budget consultations to date," says Wulf.

While the planned "Financial Compass for Beckum" working group has announced its intention to review "everything", there have been no concrete proposals or resolutions in the current budget process to date that would cancel or postpone projects or result in significant savings. The budget freeze is intended to prevent new financial obligations from creating additional facts that could make consolidation efforts more difficult. The measure supplements the provisional budget management currently in place.

For the administration, there is currently an area of tension that is almost impossible to resolve: on the one hand, there is an obligation to implement politically agreed measures. On the other hand, it is being signalled that precisely these measures are to be called into question - but so far without any corresponding resolutions being passed. "As long as projects are not explicitly changed or cancelled, the administration must implement them in principle. However, the budget freeze is a necessary precautionary instrument to avoid creating facts that anticipate later decisions," says Wulf.

The administration expressly emphasises that the working group set up can be a useful component of budget consolidation. At the same time, concrete decisions will be required in the 2026 budget if its deficit is to be significantly reduced. Mayor Gerdhenrich emphasises: "This draft budget provides a viable framework for the further development of our city. If the majority of politicians do not support it, that is their right. However, they must then adopt an amended budget with clear priorities and savings decisions." It is not consistent to cut nothing from the budget and at the same time expect the deficit to be significantly reduced.

With this decree, expenses, payments and commitment authorisations of the municipal budget are blocked with immediate effect, as it is called administratively. This also prohibits the creation of new financial obligations at the expense of the city of Beckum. Exceptions to this include existing legal obligations of the city or the continuation of necessary tasks that cannot be postponed.

The city currently assumes that the freeze will expire again with the resolution on the 2026 budget. City Treasurer Thomas Wulf predicts: "At this point, there should once again be a decided and clear political mandate for the administration." The administration will continue to constructively support the political decision-making process, but expects clear decisions. The budget freeze will be presented to the Beckum City Council.

Budget of the city of Beckum