Altbach's mayor receives an annual salary of over 100,000 euros!

Altbach's mayor receives an annual salary of over 100,000 euros!

The Altbach local council has made a decision that is causing a stir. From January 2026, the new mayor Sebastian Flörchinger will be placed in salary level B2, which means that he will receive a salary of over 100,000 euros per year. This decision was passed by a majority in the local council after the proposal for a lower salary, which was originally classified at level A16 (level 10), was rejected. The deputy mayor Mathias Lipp justified the lower classification with the simpler administrative structure in the community, which has around 6,000 inhabitants.

Salary level B2 entails a basic monthly salary of 9,133.72 euros, to which further payments such as family allowances or allowances may be added. The CDU parliamentary group leader Michael Euchenhofer was the main applicant for the higher classification, which was supported by the SPD. The Independent Voters' Association (UWV) voted against it. This decision is in line with Flörchinger's predecessor Martin Funk, who was also classified at salary level B2, although this is not common practice given the community's population size.

Context of civil servant pay

The salary of civil servants, as defined in the Federal Remuneration Act (BBesG), is subject to different regulations and can vary from federal state to federal state. The salary differs significantly from wages in other sectors because it is exempt from certain social security contributions and follows a specific maintenance principle. This principle, anchored in Article 33 paragraph 5 of the Basic Law, is intended to ensure the economic independence of civil servants and offer protection against corruption.

Civil servants are divided into different career groups depending on their qualifications and length of experience. Salary scale A is intended for most civil servants, while higher management positions, such as that of the mayor, are classified in salary scale B. Specific salary tables apply to this, which are tailored to the respective employer. For detailed information on salaries, interested citizens can find interactive salary tables and calculators on the website of the Civil servant pay as well as the community forums are available.

The decision of the Altbach municipal council to classify Flörchinger in salary group B2 could also trigger future discussions about the appropriateness of civil servant salaries in comparable municipalities. Whether such salary levels should be common in view of the administrative structures and the size of the municipality remains a relevant issue in the context of the nationwide regulations and suggestions on civil servant salaries.