Parents in Norderstedt are fighting: daycare fees are set to explode!

Parents in Norderstedt are fighting: daycare fees are set to explode!

The parents in Norderstedt are upset: A proposal from the city administration proposes to significantly increase the fees for daycare centers and meals. For families, the amount could increase from 4,400 euros to over 6,800 euros annually. Torben Adelmund, an affected father, responded to this development with an online petition that collected over 1,200 signatures in just four days. This immense support shows how deep the families' concerns are. kn-online.de reports that ...

The city administration justifies the desired fee increase with Norderstedt's financial difficulties. The proposed daycare fees should in future be between 145 and 254.70 euros for different care periods, while the meal allowance should increase from 35 to 75 euros per month. “What a burden for the families!” grumbles Adelmund, who has just moved to Norderstedt because of the family-friendly conditions. At a meeting of the youth welfare committee, numerous parents spoke up to express their concerns.

A strong signal from parents

At a recent meeting of the Youth Welfare Committee, which was moved to the large council chamber due to the high number of participants, the wave of indignation was felt. The committee postponed the decision to increase daycare fees until September - a small success for the protesters. The parents' pressure is having an effect because the members have obviously noticed the families' concerns, even if the final all-clear has not yet been given. openpetition.de offers further information on ...

There is currently also discussion about necessary savings in the youth welfare budget. But what does that mean for those affected? The Children and Youth Advisory Board has already spoken out clearly against the drastic increases. Supporters are already being called upon to take part: parents should be actively addressed in the daycare centers and the petition should be spread further. It remains exciting – how will the situation develop after the local political summer break?

Daycare fees in comparison

Daycare centers in Germany have different rules for paying contributions. A look across state borders shows that in some federal states the fee-free nature of daycare centers is already a reality. Parents in Berlin, Bremen and other federal states either pay no contributions at all or only pay for meal costs. These models could serve as a model for a possible regulation in Norderstedt. bildungsserver.de informs about…

• Berlin: Kitas kostenfrei, nur Verpflegungsanteil zahlt der Eltern.
• Bremen: Ab 3 Jahren beitragsfrei bis zur Einschulung.
• Hamburg: Bis zu 5 Stunden täglich beitragsfrei.

The situation in Norderstedt now requires quick action and an open dialogue between parents and the city administration. How much are families willing to pay and what alternatives are there to reduce the financial burden for many? The discussion will certainly continue and we will keep an eye on developments.