Stuttgart (dpa/lsw) – The leaders of the green-black coalition discussed the next double budget and further investments on Wednesday evening. It was considered certain that the more than 140,000 retired civil servants in the state should now also be given a flat-rate energy fee of 300 euros. After the federal government relieved not only the pensioners, but also the retired federal civil servants, the state also wants to help the pension recipients in the southwest. The cost of the measure is estimated at 40 million euros.
At the meeting in the State Ministry, the group around Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) also wants to talk about further investments in construction projects. For example, finance minister Danyal Bayaz (Greens) is pushing for the new elephant house in Stuttgart’s Wilhelma to be financed. He had estimated the costs at around 50 million euros a year ago.
In addition, the Greens and CDU want to agree on the further procedure for preparing the double budget for 2023/2024. Since it does not look like there will be a gas shortage and an economic slump in the autumn, there is hope for additional tax revenue. But the country has to wait for the tax estimate at the end of October. Since both the Greens and the CDU still have numerous spending requests, these must be prioritized in the event of a significant increase.
The heads of the coalition want to comply with the debt brake again in a double budget. In addition, the Greens and CDU want to spend almost 1.4 billion euros more despite inflation, the energy crisis and the pandemic. In addition, it has already been agreed that almost 1,700 new jobs will be created, with new teachers in particular being hired. In addition, the country wants to create a risk buffer of 1.46 billion euros.
