Fees in Delmenhorst are rising: This is how much you will have to pay in 2026!

Fees in Delmenhorst are rising: This is how much you will have to pay in 2026!

Changes are emerging in Delmenhorst that will not only fill the city's coffers, but will also put a strain on the citizens' wallets. From 2026, higher fees are planned in several areas from waste cleaning to street cleaning to funerals. The city administration speaks of a “noticeable general increase in costs”, which was met with approval by the building and environmental committee. Here the increases were unanimously approved, which shows that the need for action was recognized, but whether households are enthusiastic about the new fees is another matter. The Weser-Kurier reports that the fees for street cleaning will rise by almost 19 percent to 1.82 euros per square meter unit. With winter service it is even around 33 percent more, which drives the costs to 3.61 euros.

Single people are particularly affected here, as they will in future have to shell out around 99 euros (previously 75 euros) for street cleaning and winter service. If there are several residents, the picture is also uncomfortable: for two people the waste fee is 258 euros and for four people it is even 365 euros. This increase results from the increased disposal costs and operating costs, which alone total 371,000 euros.

Winter service and waste disposal fees are increasing

The targeted costs for winter service for 2026 amount to a whopping 800,000 euros, with around 611,000 euros having to be borne by the property owners. The fact that the costs for a normal burial at the Bungerhof cemetery will fall by 3.5 percent may seem somewhat encouraging, but this news will probably be overshadowed by the significantly increasing fees. The disposal fee for dirty and rainwater will also increase slightly and the overall costs for households in Delmenhorst will increase significantly.

Gerold Runge was particularly concerned about the costs of winter service, which could particularly affect agricultural businesses. Here he warns of a high financial burden, which can become a challenge for many in the region. In the future, citizens, especially single people, will be charged 38 euros more for winter service and 22 euros without additional costs.

Property tax changes coming

The upcoming property tax reform brings with it numerous innovations not only in Delmenhorst, but also throughout Germany. From 2025 onwards, property tax will be reregulated, as stated by Wohnimmobilien NRW, for example. This reform could lead to “burden shifting” that would require some owners to pay more and others to pay less. Many cities are expecting an increase in assessment rates - in Lower Saxony, around a third of the municipalities have long since set assessment rates that are above the revenue-neutral rates. This could also play a role in Delmenhorst, especially since property tax is an important source of income for the municipalities.

In summary, this means for the citizens of Delmenhorst: Fee adjustments and a possible increase in property taxes are pending, which could make financial planning more difficult for many citizens. It remains to be hoped that the city's hoped-for additional income from the increases will be invested in the necessary developments in order not only to preserve the quality of life in Delmenhorst, but also to improve it. A look at the Tagesschau shows that many municipalities in Germany were already able to benefit from the additional income in 2024 - whether this will also be the case in Delmenhorst remains to be seen.