Million dollar hole in Greifswald: Obligation to lease remains!

Million dollar hole in Greifswald: Obligation to lease remains!

There are currently turbulent developments in Greifswald that not only affect the city's finances, but could also pose challenges for allotment gardeners. While the budget deficit amounts to 41 million euros, politicians and administration have taken various measures to turn things around. The rental prices for the allotment gardens will remain stable for the time being in the coming year, after the original drastic increase from 8 to almost 18 cents per square meter from 2026 was withdrawn due to a veto by several parliamentary groups, reports Baltic Sea newspaper.

However, Vice Mayor Achim Lerm has already announced that the rent will be increased by 2 cents in 2027 and by a further 2 cents in 2029. A comprehensive allotment garden concept should also examine additional rent increases over time. But what does this uncertainty mean for allotment gardeners? Despite the current concerns about the Agricultural today informed, which reports on the high rental prices in many regions, the people of Greifswald can relax for now.

Budget situation between austerity measures and social projects

The city's financial difficulties also have an impact on various social and cultural projects. The originally planned funding cuts for the current year are now largely eliminated, which will benefit the district budgets and subsidies for cultural institutions. Nevertheless, cuts in the area of ​​art workshops, of around 25,600 euros, are already being planned for 2026.

Another big issue is the increase in the trade tax rate to 445 percent from 2027, a measure called for by the opposition Alternative List/Animal Welfare Party/Die Party faction. At the same time, the Christian Democratic Conservatives are pushing for a budget security concept to consolidate finances. In order to achieve this, an external expert should be brought in, which would cost the city 750,000 euros. But will this approach really achieve the desired effect? Citizens will vote on these proposals on November 17th.

Challenges and perspectives

One thing is clear: the city administration is under pressure to find solutions to expand financial flexibility. The planned increases in allotment rent could lead to an increase in rental income in the long term, which would help reduce the deficit. However, it can also be observed that the rental conditions for allotment garden areas are subject to special legal regulations, which is important for many garden lovers. The owner of the allotment area can decide within the framework of the legal regulations to whom he will lease the area, which often leads to uncertainty on the market.

This tense situation shows that the city and its citizens must stand together to overcome the challenge. The ideas and suggestions from citizens could be crucial in finding sustainable solutions. The focus is eagerly on the upcoming meeting, where the future direction for Greifswald could be determined.