Budget Decisions in Kiel: Default Guarantees, Property Acquisition, and Security Concepts

Default Guarantees: Risks, Obligations, and Revenues

In April 2026, the city of Kiel once again assumed financial risks for municipal companies. A 80% default guarantee for the Kieler Sportstätten- und Stadiongesellschaft mbH & Co. KG and a 90% default guarantee for the Städtische Krankenhaus Kiel GmbH were decided. These decisions reflect the city's strategic role as a financial partner for key institutions.

The default guarantees mean that in the event of insolvency of the aforementioned companies, the city will take over up to 80 or 90 percent of the liabilities, respectively. In return, the companies pay the city a yearly guarantee fee. This mechanism serves not only financial security but also revenue generation.

The document 0323/2026 also provides an overview of the status of guarantee obligations as of December 31, 2025. The obligations amount to several hundred million euros, distributed across different sectors such as industry, commerce, and healthcare. The financial impact is primarily covered by the collection of annual fees, which shows that the city is not acting purely as a risk bearer in these commitments.

Geomar West: Paving the Way for a Marine Visualization Center

Another focus was the acquisition of the Geomar West property from the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The city of Kiel received the property free of charge and plans to establish a Marine Visualization Center (MVZ) there. The costs for construction maintenance and operation in 2026 will be borne by the city, with a detailed financial plan including grants and possible Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) required for the future.

The cost calculation for 2026 amounts to approximately 364,000 euros, distributed among operating costs, construction maintenance, and vacancy management. At the same time, the GEOMAR generates grants from the state and admission fees, which contribute to cost coverage. A special role is played by the annual operating cost share of 240,000 euros, which GEOMAR pays for the use of the premises.

The fundamental decision on the MVZ is expected to be made in 2027. Until then, a steering group composed of representatives of the administration and all parliamentary groups has been established. This shows the political sensitivity of the project and the need for broad acceptance.

Security Concepts for the Kiel Week: Investment in Trust and Inclusion

In addition to purely financial issues, security measures were also in focus. An expanded security concept for the Kiel Week was unanimously approved (the AfD abstained). The measures include:

• Establishment of "Safe-Spaces" in event areas
• Access to mobile phone charging stations at central locations
• Public awareness campaigns to raise awareness of support systems
• Evaluation of the measures after the Kiel Week

This initiative is a step toward inclusive event organization and building trust in the population. The costs are covered by the regular budget, as they are part of the security framework for the Kiel Week.

Outlook and Challenges

The April decisions show that Kiel is preparing for the future on multiple levels: by providing financial security for municipal companies, investing in new infrastructure, and improving security conditions for major events. At the same time, financial planning remains crucial to ensure the city's long-term capacity for action.

The financial administration will play a key role in the coming months by monitoring the cost development for the Marine Visualization Center and examining financing options such as Green or Blue Bonds. Furthermore, budget supplements cannot be ruled out if the cost development deviates.