Haiger – Monthly Review February 2026: Budget, Reforms, and Participation

Budget Security and Modern Administration

What was important this month

• The 2026 budget plan was approved, including adjustments for the ice rink and the forestry development project.
• New regulations on the compensation of the volunteer fire department and on risk prevention were adopted.
• The city of Haiger is establishing structures for increased citizen participation, such as the Children and Youth Forum.
• Reforms in the rules of procedure and the city charter enable digital participation in meetings.
• New mediators and local court assessors were elected.

Budget 2026: Security and Investments

In February 2026, budget decisions were at the forefront. The 2026 budget plan was approved in the proposed form, with the ice rink being reintroduced into the budget with a planned allocation of 100,000 €. At the same time, the planned allocation for the forestry development project was halved, from 200,000 € to 100,000 €.

Additionally, a freezing clause for unstaffed personnel positions was approved in order to strengthen financial discipline. The city continues to invest in forward-looking projects such as the renovation of the town hall with the addition of a restaurant, for which an upper cost limit of 18 million euros has been set.

Administrative Reforms and Digital Participation

A focus of the February meetings was administrative reforms. The city of Haiger's main charter was revised to enable hybrid meetings – a modern response to the demands of the digital age. The rules of procedure for the city council, committees, and administrative officers were also revised.

These reforms aim to increase transparency and promote citizen participation. For example, the "Trepflicht" (duty of reporting) was renamed "Treuepflicht" (duty of loyalty) – a small, but symbolic step toward building a trusting relationship between the administration and its citizens.

New Participation Structures

The city of Haiger is creating new structures to involve younger and older citizens more strongly in decision-making processes. The Children and Youth Forum as well as the Forum for Older People and People with Disabilities were approved and will come into effect on 01 March 2026.

These initiatives are a clear signal of the city's diversity and the recognition of different life stages. They allow more citizens to express their opinions and actively shape the city's future.

Legal and Social Reforms

In February, important legal decisions were also made. A regulation on the compensation of the volunteer fire department was unanimously adopted and will come into effect on 01 March 2026. The risk prevention ordinance was also revised to close legal gaps and ensure the safety of citizens.

In addition, new mediators and local court assessors were elected, including Gerhard Kring as deputy mediator and Frieder Krech as local court assessor. These positions are an important part of the legal system and contribute to social stability.

Overview and Outlook

February 2026 was a month in which Haiger took steps into the future on both a financial and structural level. The budget was secured, the administration modernized, and new participation structures created. These developments show that Haiger is ready to face the challenges of the future.

Looking ahead to March 2026, it will be interesting to see how the new structures and reforms will prove themselves in practice and how they can further improve the quality of life in Haiger.