Renovation emergency in the Ludwigsburg district: Bats are slowing down progress!

Renovation emergency in the Ludwigsburg district: Bats are slowing down progress!

The alarm bell is ringing in the Ludwigsburg district: The mayors in Ludwigsburg, Asperg and Freiberg are warning about the increasingly dilapidated situation of public buildings, which not only includes schools, town halls and gymnasiums, but is also putting a considerable strain on municipal coffers. The challenges are manifold as many of these facilities are outdated and in urgent need of renovation. An example of this is the city of Steinheim, which is planning to renovate its over 400-year-old half-timbered town hall and at the same time aim to build a new modern administrative headquarters. But there are hurdles here too: a pest infestation by ball beetles is delaying the planned renovation.

The city of Vaihingen an der Enz has now received a report that classifies the renovation of its 50-year-old indoor swimming pool as no longer sensible. Instead, demolition is recommended. Kirchberg an der Murr is facing financial bottlenecks and is planning a new, expensive community hall. However, the demolition of the old hall is currently on the brink due to the protection of bats, which means additional costs of around 50,000 euros for species-appropriate treatment of the animals, as *Stuttgarter Nachrichten* reports.

Rapid increase in expenses

Despite an 18 percent increase in municipal income in Baden-Württemberg over the last four years, personnel costs have risen by 25 percent and social benefits have risen by 35 percent during this period. This leads to a clear disproportion and puts a finger in the wound of political failures in adapting municipal financing to reality. The lack of long-term planning is a source of frustration and dissatisfaction for many citizens.

The problem is not limited to the Ludwigsburg district; it runs through the whole of Germany. An example from Bavaria shows similar grievances: The so-called “Black Book” of the Taxpayers' Association (BdSt) mentions numerous cases of tax waste, including cost explosions in public projects. For example, a construction designed as a “bat bridge” in the extension of the A94 between Pocking and Bad Füssing costs between three and four million euros. Critics fear that the bats will not use this bridge due to its height, which calls the entire project into question, according to *Abendzeitung München*.

Infrastructure challenges

Municipal infrastructure and investment policy presents complex challenges. The term “infrastructure” not only describes the construction of roads and bridges, but also the basis for social integration. The federal government has launched programs to strengthen municipal investment activity, but the large number and complexity of the funding programs often lead to lengthy processes. As the *Federal Agency for Civic Education* reports, technical and social infrastructure will be essential for a functioning community, with municipalities in Germany responsible for over 60 percent of all public investments.

The financial situation of municipalities is inherently heterogeneous - this is also reflected in the investment backlog, which grew to an estimated 136 billion euros by 2015. A significant portion of this backlog falls on schools and transportation infrastructure. Such grievances must be urgently addressed to ensure the quality of life of citizens and increase happiness in communities.