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Merger in Schönau: Is there a risk of financial collapse for the communities?
The financial situation of the city of Schönau is causing debates about a possible merger with Tunau. Mayor Engesser expresses concerns.
Merger in Schönau: Is there a risk of financial collapse for the communities?
The Schönau Municipal Administration Association (GVV) is facing the possibility of a merger with the city of Schönau, particularly with the financially struggling municipality of Tunau. The municipal supervision of the district office has suggested that Tunau should join the city of Schönau. These considerations are raising eyebrows and concerns in the region, particularly in light of the current financial situation.
Michael Engesser, mayor of Fröhnd, expresses concerns about the merger and emphasizes that the GVV is a modern form of administration. In his opinion, Schönau is “effectively bankrupt” as the city has liquid equity of around -676,180 euros at the end of 2024 and a loss of around 1.8 million euros is forecast by the end of 2025. Engesser emphasizes that a merger not only does not solve the financial problems, but could actually endanger the diversity and biodiversity of the communities.
Financial concerns predominate
Engesser expresses particular criticism of the city of Schönau's high cost share of GVV projects such as the swimming pool, the Buchenbrand area and the multi-purpose hall. He describes the MTB building in particular as a “financial nail in the coffin” that has damaged the city financially. Engesser has pointed out Schönau's difficult financial situation in the past, but was not taken seriously.
He goes on to say that the administration of the GVV is set up efficiently and that dissolving it would cause more costs than savings. The mayor fears that civic engagement and the communities' identity would suffer as a result of the merger. Similar concerns can also be observed in other regions of Germany, where municipal mergers are usually accompanied by a decline in volunteer commitment.
Examples from other federal states
Professor Gerhard Henkel criticizes the effects of community mergers on the sense of home and the identity of the villages. In the old Federal Republic there were already forced incorporations in the 1960s and 1970s, which were met with great protest. This raises the question of whether the current debate about community mergers in Schönau and Tunau could encounter resistance from citizens.
The discussion about mergers in Germany remains a very sensitive and complex topic that has both financial and emotional dimensions. The near future will show whether the desired merger in Schönau will actually be realized or whether the concerns of the residents will outweigh the financial considerations of the authorities.