Rostock in financial crisis: Budget lock due to 63 million euros deficit!

Rostock in financial crisis: Budget lock due to 63 million euros deficit!

Rostock, Deutschland - In the Hanseatic city of Rostock it rumbles tremendously: Mayor Eva-Maria Kröger (Die Linke) imposed a budget lock on July 24, 2025, which was imposed on the city out of financial bottlenecks. In total, Rostock expects a minus of future -oriented 63 million euros - and that is almost twice as high as intended. According to Barnabas from Wrycz Rekowski, the city's finance senator, this misery is due to several factors, such as increasing social costs and lower grants from the country. [Norddeutscher Rundfunk] (https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vorpommern/rostock/million-defizit-defizit-rostock-verhaengt- Household lock, MVREGIOROSTOCK-442.html) reports that the overall benefits decreased by around eight million euros after the census results from 2022 come into force.

The official announcement of the budget lock came on Wednesday evening after the city administration was previously informed in the afternoon round. A lack of financial resources drive the city into a tense situation in which there is a variety of projects and expenses on the brink. Voluntary services in sports and culture, which recently included around 60 million euros, have to be frozen, and new occupations of jobs will also be stopped by the end of the year.

The background of the crisis

The city's annual budget amounts to one billion euros, with a significant part of mandatory expenditure. Expenditures in the areas of youth and social affairs in particular increase by six million euros, which also affects the financial situation. The city administration is required to check the expenses precisely. Measures for saving, such as reducing business trips and office equipment, are urgently necessary to achieve the desired savings target of twelve million euros.

The forecast of Dr. Chris von Wrycz Rekowski, who warns of an annual deficit of 60 million euros in the coming years. The city's debt could grow to around 130 million euros by 2027, which means that long -term financial stability is on the brink. Rostock today emphasizes that the maintenance of legal and contractual services is still guaranteed, even if the voluntary services have been put on hold.

outlook and future vision

Despite the oppressive financial situation, investment projects remain unaffected and are implemented as planned. The city hopes to present a consolidated concept to improve the budget situation in the upcoming double budget. "We must not paralyze the city," emphasizes the finance senator. It remains to be seen how Rostock masters the challenges and whether it is possible to target the so -called "black zero" in the city budget.
The tense negotiations on the continuation of existing projects and the targeted savings of costs are the current issues that the Rostock citizens will employ.