Viersen: Budget Decisions in February 2026 – Between Investment, Frugality, and Sustainability

Budget Decisions in Viersen: What February 2026 Shows

The financial situation of the city of Viersen remains a central topic in political debate. In February 2026, several decisions were made that have both short-term and long-term effects on the municipal budget and public infrastructure. Here is an overview of the most important decisions and their background.

Staff Development in the Municipal Order Service

One of the first decisions concerned the lifting of hiring restrictions for two positions in the Municipal Order Service. This measure entails additional costs of approximately 154,200 euros per year—about 77,100 euros per position. These costs have already been budgeted for 2026 and must also be taken into account for subsequent years.

The decision received unanimous approval from the council, showing how important personnel security is in the field of order policy. At the same time, the administration was urged to review existing vacant positions in order to relieve the financial situation. The decision underlines how sensitive the balance between personnel investments and financial discipline remains.

Delegates to the Membership Assembly of the Association of German Cities

In February, the city council decided to send five delegates to the Membership Assembly of the Association of German Cities in North Rhine-Westphalia 2026. The costs for participation—including possible overnight stays and travel—amount to approximately 120 euros per delegate. The administration recommended against sending guests, as they should not rely on municipal funds.

The decision to send delegates was unanimous, with the exception of the approval of the list of delegates. This disagreement shows the political tensions that can also arise in seemingly technical decisions.

Reintroduction of the Warm Bath Day – Pilot Phase with Caution

Another highlight in February was the reintroduction of a warm bath day at the Viersen city bath in the form of a four-month pilot phase. The warm bath day is proposed for Thursdays with a water temperature of 30 °C. This measure has financial implications, as the profit distribution by the NEW Kommunalholding GmbH will be reduced.

The decision for the pilot phase passed with 51 yes and 8 no votes—the AfD voted against it. The administration was originally against the measure, as it was not recommended for sustainability reasons. Nevertheless, the pilot phase was approved, showing how strongly political priorities in the public sphere must be weighed against financial realities.

Accounting Assistance: One-Time Adjustment in 2026

One of the largest financial decisions of the month was the adjustment of the accounting assistance amounting to 20,605,567.49 euros in accordance with the NKF-COVID-19-Ukraine-Isolation Act (NKF-CUIG). This adjustment was made without affecting the profit and loss account (against the equity capital, i.e., the general reserve), meaning that the operating budget would not be burdened.

The adjustment reduces the city's equity capital by approximately 20.6 million euros, which corresponds to about ten percent of the balance as of 31 December 2024. In return, an amortization burden of around 412,120 euros will be avoided over 50 years starting from 2026. This measure was part of the 2026 budget discussions and was recommended by the administration to relieve the operating budget.

The decision reflects how cities must manage with state aid—and how they can meaningfully integrate it into their financial planning to ensure long-term stability.

Conclusion: A Budget in a Tension Field

The financial decisions in February 2026 show how committed the city of Viersen is to budget planning. On the one hand, investments are made in personnel, infrastructure, and quality of life for citizens; on the other hand, financial discipline remains a central topic. The decisions show that Viersen is capable of handling limited resources flexibly—whether through pilot projects like the warm bath day or through the careful use of state aid.

In the coming months, it will be important to monitor the effects of these decisions—particularly in terms of the sustainability of the investments and long-term budget stability. Viersen is walking a tightrope between investing in the future and maintaining the financial foundations—a tightrope that must be held not only in Viersen, but in many cities in North Rhine-Westphalia.