Gevelsberg's 2026 Budget: Between Savings, Investments, and Political Tensions

2026 Budget Plan: Gevelsberg in a Financial Tension Field

The 2026 budget plan of the city of Gevelsberg not only reflects the financial situation of a municipality but also the political tensions that arise in a strained budgetary context. The debates in the town hall and the committees show how differently the factions prioritize—between savings, investments, and social responsibility.

AfD Proposals: Cuts in Marketing, Staffing, and Refugee Accommodation

The AfD faction was particularly active during the March session. It proposed, among other things, the elimination of special expense compensation for committee chairpersons and deputy mayors. These measures should enable savings in the millions—sending a signal that political structures must be taxed more heavily.

In addition, the AfD demanded a 25 percent reduction in marketing and advertising activities in the fields of economy and tourism, which would result in annual savings of 50,000 euros. Furthermore, proposals were made to reduce voluntary services in the areas of child, youth, and family support as well as social assistance, aiming for annual savings of 100,000 euros.

Particularly controversial was the proposal to reduce refugee accommodation costs by 10 percent. To this end, the AfD faction suggested relying more on self-help from the accommodated individuals, for example, in cleaning or care work. These approaches show a clear stance: to save first from political structures and voluntary services before burdening citizens with tax increases.

FDP: Abolish the Dog Tax – For Social Relief

In the same context, the FDP faction presented a revenue proposal aimed at abolishing the dog tax. The rationale: financial relief and promotion of social participation. The freed-up funds are to be reinvested in areas such as climate protection, building preservation, or youth support. This proposal signals a different prioritization: not only saving, but also investing to pursue social and ecological goals.

2026 Budget Ordinance: A Deficit Budget

The 2026 budget ordinance shows a budget in deficit. The revenue plan amounts to 130.25 million euros, while the expenditures amount to 147.09 million euros. This deficit is covered by loans, loan authorizations of 57.1 million euros, and by reducing the general reserve by 13.96 million euros.

The city plans investments of 61.6 million euros, with loans for liquidity assurance limited to a maximum of 70 million euros. Tax rates remained largely stable: land tax A at 236 percent, land tax B at 739 percent (residential plots) and 1,460 percent (non-residential plots), and business tax at 490 percent.

Personnel Budget: Staff Freeze and Reduction of Turnover

In the personnel area, investments and savings are equally relevant. Personnel expenditures in 2026 amount to around 22.96 million euros. The AfD faction called for a staffing freeze in non-security and non-order-related areas starting in 2026 and proposed savings of at least 1 percent of personnel expenditures through the non-replacement of vacant positions, which would save approximately 510,000 euros annually.

The city also plans to reduce project and coordination positions as well as to consolidate IT and digitalization tasks. These measures show that personnel policy in Gevelsberg is not only aimed at cuts, but also at increasing efficiency.

Outlook: A Budget in Tension

Gevelsberg's 2026 budget is a compromise between investing in the future and implementing savings in the present. The political debates around the budget planning show that there is no unified front in the municipality. While the AfD faction focuses on cuts and structural relief, the FDP follows a different strategy: not only saving, but also investing to advance social and ecological goals.

The coming years will show how the city deals with these tensions. Whether the planned investments will bear fruit or whether the saving measures will lead to cutbacks depends on the implementation. Gevelsberg is at the beginning of a new budget period—and thus also at a turning point in local financial policy.