Köln's Mayor Calls for Financial Relief for Municipalities Amid Rising Support Costs

08.08.2026 – 01:00

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger

Köln's Mayor Calls for Financial Relief for Municipalities Amid Rising Support Costs

Torsten Burmester (SPD): Administration Must Understand Budgetary Constraints

Köln. (ots)

The Mayor of Cologne, Torsten Burmester, has urged the federal government to alleviate the financial pressures on municipalities, particularly concerning services for individuals with disabilities. "We need solutions to address the sharply rising costs in educational support and integration assistance," Burmester stated in an interview with the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" (Saturday edition). He highlighted that school support services are the "main cost drivers" in integration assistance, noting that expenditures in this area have surged by 555 percent over the past decade, escalating from approximately nine million euros to over 59 million euros by 2025.

The increasing demand for school support services poses significant challenges for the municipal budget and necessitates a discussion on the sustainable financing and structure of inclusive education at the state level, Burmester remarked. He expressed a desire for the principle of "Who orders, pays" to be more effectively adhered to by both state and federal governments. This principle was established during the conference of prime ministers regarding the financial relations between the federal government, states, and municipalities. However, Burmester warned that while this represents a "step forward for the future," it does not resolve the structural underfunding of municipalities. Additionally, the issue of responsibilities that were previously transferred without adequate funding remains unresolved. Furthermore, states are not legally obligated to pass on federal funds to municipalities.

Burmester also called on the city administration to understand the necessity of increased austerity measures. "We are making cuts starting with ourselves, focusing on staff reductions, modernizing our administration, and reassessing processes," he explained. "We are demanding a lot from our colleagues, including the elimination of voluntary bonuses for civil servants. However, job security remains intact; there will be no layoffs in public administration due to operational reasons. This should not be overlooked," the mayor emphasized.

The full interview in verbatim: www.ksta.de/1343506

The quoted passage:

Mr. Burmester, how close is Cologne to a budgetary emergency?

My goal is clear: Cologne should be able to shape its future independently and not require a budgetary safety plan. This means we are rigorously consolidating our budget. We are cutting costs starting with ourselves, focusing on staff reductions, modernizing our administration, and reassessing processes. This leads to significant discussions within the city administration. We are demanding a lot from our colleagues, including the elimination of voluntary bonuses for civil servants. However, job security is guaranteed; there will be no layoffs in public administration. This should not be forgotten.

The federal government has fulfilled a significant wish for states and municipalities: financial relations should be characterized by the principle of 'Who orders, pays'. Is it time to thank Chancellor Merz?

I look at things realistically. The agreements made by the prime ministers with the federal chancellor represent progress for the future but will not eliminate the structural underfunding of municipalities. The issue of previously transferred and unfunded responsibilities remains unresolved. Moreover, states are not legally required to pass on federal funds to municipalities.

What needs to happen for you to be satisfied?

We need solutions for the rapidly increasing costs in educational support and integration assistance. In integration assistance, school support services are the primary cost drivers. Expenditures for school support services have risen by 555 percent in the youth welfare sector over the last ten years—from around nine million euros to more than 59 million euros in 2025. The high demand for school support services presents enormous challenges for our budget and requires a debate on sustainable financing and the structure of inclusive education at the state level. I simply wish for the principle of 'Who orders, pays' to be better adhered to at both state and federal levels.

Pressekontakt:

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger Newsdesk Telefon: 0221 224 2080

Original content from: Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, transmitted by news aktuell