Will the financial gap in 2021 be considerably smaller?
The Hanover region seems to get away with it again with a black eye: Instead of the deficit of a good 100 million euros forecast at the beginning of the year, the budget gap WILL probably only amount to 23.5 million euros. The main reason is above all a 51 million higher allocation from the municipal financial equalization. There was also another 55 million euros in special financial aid to deal with the corona pandemic. Because the Hanover region also had a shortfall in income elsewhere, such as in local transport due to fewer passengers, there is still an overall shortfall.
Cordula Drautz was still forecasting a good 100 million euros at the beginning of the year. The figures that the regional administration presented to the finance committee on Thursday for information on the third quarter of 2021 remained uncommented despite the positive development – after all, this year’s financial year will end probably 79.5 million euros better than estimated. At the 2020 annual financial statements, the region had posted an increase of 45 million euros, and it intends to use this surplus to reduce debt, it said at the beginning of 2021.
Fewer accidents – the region loses ten million euros
In the course of the year, the region also saved some grants to its transport companies, such as the grant for the youth network card (2.5 million euros) and the social tariff (1.5 million euros) – because the pandemic meant that demand was below the Forecasts remained. In the area of participation, the Hanover region also received a good 20 million euros more from the state of Lower Saxony in the course of the year, including for curative educational services – the minus of a good 19 million euros for additional expenses in the area of social benefits does not matter.
Curious: In the course of the year – apparently due to increased home office – there were apparently fewer rescue operations in 2021, namely the region had to forego rescue service fees of ten million euros: And: There were fewer traffic offenses – the regional authority therefore took 1.8 million euros less than budgeted. In the area of vehicle registrations, the Hanover region saved 2.4 million euros for a total of reimbursement contributions to the municipalities. In short: fewer cars were registered.
Politicians still have questions about the 2020 annual financial statements
The finance committee did not approve the 2020 annual financial statements with an increase of 45 million euros and the associated relief for the regional president. The reason for this was the closing remarks in the report of the audit office. For example, the audit report states that the annual financial statements under “Observance of proper bookkeeping reflect the actual asset, earnings and financial position of the Hanover region due to a war that is not generally applicable”. In other words: there are inconsistencies in the bookkeeping. At the request of Roland Zieseniss (CDU), the adoption of the annual financial statements was postponed to January. Then with verbal explanations from the financial authorities.
By Andreas Voigt