Freedom from contributions for daycare centers: a gift or a dangerous election campaign?

Freedom from contributions for daycare centers: a gift or a dangerous election campaign?

In a secret vote, the Osnabrück city council passed a significant decision: from August 1, 2026, fees for all daycare centers in the city will be abolished. This decision was made by a majority of the city council factions SPD, Greens, Volt and Left/Kalla Wefel, but it was not without criticism. The CDU, the Greens and Volt accuse the supporters of populist election gifts, while Mayor Katharina Pötter warns of negative effects on the urban system and the shortage of skilled workers. According to Hasepost, the financial resources and specialist staff are necessary to implement this ambitious measure.

The reactions from the opposition are clear. CDU parliamentary group leader Eva-Maria Westermann and her colleague Marius Keite express concerns about the financial burden that freedom from contributions could entail. They warn that the application for fee exemption, which would cost around 6.8 million euros annually, would not have to be borne by the state of Lower Saxony, but by the city itself. The state of Lower Saxony is currently only covering around half of the 82 million euros for childcare, which violates the principle of connectivity, as the CDU notes on its website.

Financial challenges

Head of Social Affairs Wolfgang Beckermann has already sounded an alarmist tone and pointed out the need for additional daycare places, which could potentially result in construction costs of 56 million euros and annual operating costs of 12 million euros. Because high-quality childcare is currently in great demand in Osnabrück. The registration rate for crèche care here is higher than in many surrounding communities, and the care times are longer and therefore cheaper, which is a real advantage for many families. Nevertheless, the CDU also sees the danger that if fees are exempted, many places could remain unused because there is a lack of skilled workers. This problem is exacerbated by spontaneous group closures.

The city currently has a large budget deficit and struggles daily with the challenges of a shortage of skilled workers. Each additional day of care could cost the city around 300,000 euros, and given the high fluctuation in staffing, it is becoming increasingly difficult to stabilize the care situation. Meanwhile, the CDU representatives are calling for the contribution rates to be frozen in order not to burden the budget situation even further. It is hoped that the majority of the Council will agree to this proposal and that the fee adjustments due to inflation will not be made.

The outlook for the future

The counter-financing of nine million euros promised by the SPD is still dusty, as details will only be published after the summer break. The SPD sees freedom from contributions as an important step towards greater educational equality and as a measure against poverty in old age. The Greens, who initially wanted to stagger contributions, found it difficult internally to accept this abrupt change, but the decision has now been made.

Overall, the future development of childcare in Osnabrück depends on complex financial and personnel considerations. The administration was also tasked with examining models for wealthy families by 2026 to ensure that the exemption from contributions does not become a permanent financial fiasco for the city. The pressure to find a responsible and needs-based solution is high, and the coming months will show how those responsible will meet these challenges.