Göttingen in crisis: Managing Director Gruber is on the verge of extinction!

Göttingen in crisis: Managing Director Gruber is on the verge of extinction!

Andreas Gruber, the managing director of Göttinger Sport und Freizeit GmbH (GöSF), is apparently facing the end. As Göttinger Tageblatt reports, the supervisory board decided in a meeting to dismiss Gruber. However, details about his future remained shrouded in darkness as Mayor Petra Broistedt (SPD) did not answer any further questions and referred to the confidentiality of the meeting. Gruber himself also did not comment on his situation.

The company is faced with a deficit of almost one million euros in the last financial year. The reasons for the red numbers are varied: increasing personnel expenses, higher depreciation, additional expenses and a growing interest burden from loans. A loss of around 550,000 euros is expected for the current year. Gruber emphasizes that the GöSF needs ongoing financial support from the city of Göttingen, as the company cannot raise funds from its own resources. To generate additional revenue, almost 100 measures were taken, e.g. B. increasing entrance fees and introducing parking fees. The city has promised an operating cost subsidy of one million euros for the coming year, but long-term counter-financing remains essential.

Finances of the GöSF

The company has already taken some steps to improve its financial situation. An important point is the shareholders' meeting, which decides on various aspects, such as the use of the balance sheet profit or the discharge of the management and the supervisory board. The annual financial statements for 2023, which were certified by R+P Treuhand GmbH on June 6, 2024, report an annual profit of over 3 million euros, supported by a tax refund that stabilized the financial situation in the short term. However, without this reimbursement there could have been a deficit, which indicates the tense financial situation of the GöSF.

Financial conditions are also a hot topic in local politics. As Federal Ministry of Finance summarizes, the municipalities are subject to the legal framework of the federal states, which are responsible for the financial resources. Nevertheless, it can be said that the federal government has significantly expanded its support services to strengthen municipal financial strength in times of crisis. With an annual relief of 5 billion euros since 2018, an important basis has been created to help financially weaker municipalities.

Political decisions and outlook

The political decision-makers in Göttingen are faced with a challenge to ensure the long-term financial stability of the GöSF. However, a proposal to increase property tax to save the company was rejected by council politicians. The effects of these decisions will have an impact on the future development of the GöSF and thus also on the sports and leisure activities in Göttingen. While the shareholders' meeting continues to plan to discuss the annual financial statements, the question of sustainable financing remains in the room and calls for haste.

The GenoSF sees itself under scrutiny not only from a financial perspective, but also in its strategic direction. What will happen next for Gruber remains to be seen, as the discussions and decisions of the next few days could point the way for the future of the company.