Wismar is pitching in: a new fee schedule for schools and sports is coming!

Wismar is pitching in: a new fee schedule for schools and sports is coming!

On Thursday, the citizens of Wismar will introduce a revised usage and payment regulations for municipal resources in schools and sports. This adjustment has become necessary in order to be able to react to the increased costs and changing conditions in the management of sports facilities. The last major restructuring of the system took place in 2018, and a lot has happened since then - in particular, operating and maintenance costs as well as personnel costs have increased significantly. In addition, there are the necessary repairs that can no longer be postponed in order to keep sports operations going. Even energy prices are causing problems for those responsible. Wismar.fm reports that the changes also reflect the new requirements of the city administration.

A central element of the new order is the transfer of management of the Jahnsportplatz to FC Anker Wismar. From 2026, PSV Wismar will also take the allocation times for its sports field into its own hands. The Friedenshof sports field will be given a new character and will be converted into a public football field that will no longer be rented out. This is all happening as part of a comprehensive restructuring, which also includes the introduction of the digital sports venue management program “Locaboo”, which enables online bookings for sports venues.

Reduced fees for young people

With the new usage and fee regulations, the pay groups will be restructured. Private sports groups will be placed in Group C, while commercial users will receive expanded booking options. A key point of the new regulation is that children and young people under the age of 18 will have to pay reduced fees in the future. Previous regulations that provided for free use no longer apply. The aim of this measure is to achieve a higher degree of cost coverage and to improve VAT deductibility.

As Brennecke Rechtsanwälte explains, the basic idea behind charging user fees is that they only cover part of the actual costs should. In many cases, the fees account for between 15 and 30 percent of the total costs. The rest is borne by the community. The adjustments in Wismar are therefore not just a question of cost control, but also a necessity in order to distribute the financial burden more fairly among all users.

The legal basis

The legal basis for charging such fees is anchored in municipal statutes and state laws. The central points are the Municipal Taxes Act (KAG) and the Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG). As can be read on the Herfurtner Law Firm website, fees must be collected legally and efficiently so that citizens have the necessary trust in the fee system. Transparency and legal correctness are the be-all and end-all. A regular review of the fee schedule is essential in order to avoid over- or under-financing and to maintain citizens' payment habits.

Overall, this comprehensive adaptation in Wismar aims to secure the long-term economic viability of the municipal resources. The implementation of this new fee structure will have a lasting impact on the future use of sports facilities and could serve as a model for other municipalities. With a moderate increase in the cost coverage ratio from 5.8 percent to the forecast 8.84 percent, a certain stability is aimed for, which should also meet future challenges.