Giessen in March 2026: Transparency, Budget and Communication in Focus

Transparent Communication and Budget Planning

What was important this month

• The Local Advisory Board Wieseck called for more transparency regarding construction projects by TSG Wieseck.
• A motion was submitted to clarify the reasons for the lack of information.
• The Main and Finance Committee confirmed unplanned expenditures for educational sectors.
• Open motions were reminded of again, and a deadline was set.

Communication and Local Advisory Board Work in Wieseck

In March 2026, a special meeting of the Local Advisory Board Wieseck took place to clarify open questions regarding the TSG's (Turn- and Sportgemeinschaft) construction projects. Local Board Chairman Bernhard Oswald submitted a motion requesting the municipal administration to explain the reasons for the lack of information. The motion was passed with more than half of the votes.

Additionally, the local advisory board unanimously passed a questionnaire that must be answered in writing by TSG Wieseck by 31 March 2026. The special meeting was convened due to a shortened notice period, which is in line with the rules of procedure for local advisory boards.

The meeting was recorded by Ms. Andrea Allamode, and there were no financial disclosures, as no specific euro amounts or budget items were mentioned. The communication issues between the city administration and local advisory boards remain a central point of discussion.

Budget Decisions and Budget Planning

In the Main and Finance Committee, several unplanned and extra-budgetary expenditures for the fiscal year 2025 were confirmed. The municipal administration submitted a request on 21 January 2026 to approve unplanned expenses for department 40 (educational sectors). These included areas such as vocational schools, student care, student transportation, comprehensive schools, and special needs schools.

Another motion proposed extra-budgetary expenditures up to 25,000.00 €. Both motions were acknowledged and processed in accordance with § 100 of the HGO (Haushalts- und Ordnungsgesetz). The acknowledgments were sent to the responsible committee on 31 March 2026, including proposals from STV/3020/2026 to STV/3035/2026.

The responsibility for the response lay with Mr. Bieber-Diegel from the City Council Office. These decisions affect several educational areas and demonstrate the city's flexibility in implementing its budget.

Open Motions and Deadlines

Another topic was the follow-up on open motions. Norbert Kress (BUF-Fraction) reminded the committee about the unanswered motion OBR/3008/2026 and called for all open motions to be answered by 31 March 2026. This highlights the demand for greater transparency and accountability in local political processes.

Overview and Trends

March 2026 in Giessen shows how strongly the communication between the city administration and local advisory boards, as well as the budget planning for educational sectors, were in focus. The demand for transparency is not only a political, but also a societal issue that directly affects citizens. The administration will have to demonstrate in the coming weeks and months whether it can respond to the inquiries and resolve the communication problems.

Conclusion and Outlook

March in Giessen was characterised by requests for more transparency, budget decisions, and the follow-up on open motions. The city has shown that it can handle the budget flexibly, but also that there is still room for improvement in communication. In April, it will depend on whether the deadlines are met and whether the motions are answered. Citizens can look forward to progress in the educational sectors and improved cooperation with the local advisory boards.