Mayor Willems,
members of the administration,
fellow councillors,
fellow citizens,
On behalf of the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen group, we would first like to thank our treasurer, Gerd Dahlmanns – for the draft 2026 budget we are discussing today, but also for the many conversations over the past few weeks: together with Mayor Willems during the budget talks, but often enough quite informally and at short notice, too. This openness and willingness to explain complex issues has helped us a great deal. Thank you very much.
Once again, Gangelt is looking at a balanced budget. If you look around the neighbouring municipalities, that is by no means a given. Sadly, though, in our case too we have to say: “balanced, yes – but at the expense of the equalisation reserve.” That is precisely what it is there for, as the name suggests – but no reserve lasts for ever. And a look ahead shows that Gangelt, too, will use up this reserve in the foreseeable future.
If the deficit were down to poor management, it would almost be simple: manage better! But we see no sign of poor work by the treasurer or the administration. The district levy of around €173 million in total and the youth welfare levy of around €63 million are, of course, shared by the municipality of Gangelt as well – at a cost of almost €16 million, €1.4 million more than last year.
Despite these circumstances, there are clear positives. They include the investments already made and those now planned: for example, solar panels for the Langbroich community centre, the Hastenrath festival hall and the outdoor pool. Thankfully, nobody here needs convincing that this is money well spent. Overall, it is clear that the focus is on what we already have. The energy-efficient refurbishment of the town hall, the triple sports hall and the primary school in Birgden – it is about maintaining our infrastructure. Refurbish before building new, save energy rather than waste it. That is an approach we explicitly support.
But there are also issues we need to look at more closely. The redesigned centre of Gangelt is one example. Speeding, illegal parking and drivers swerving onto the pavement have become the norm. At the latest after the first accident in May, it should have been clear that immediate action was needed. On top of that, there is a lot of space covered in a lot of stone – so the question of protection from heat almost asks itself. We will see whether the planned greening has an effect, or whether it will be the proverbial drop in the ocean.
We should also take more seriously what will be crucial to people’s everyday lives, now and in the future. That includes public transport that works. The express bus route 6, which has just been put on hold, and the current situation in Wolfsgasse show how dependent we are on higher-level decision-makers when it comes to transport and mobility. That makes it all the more important to recognise these dependencies and look for solutions together.
Finally, there remains the question of revenue. Here, the rather vague issue of the data centre looms large – and it gives us serious misgivings. Even more land sealed over, enormous energy and water consumption – and in the end, 100 jobs and the promise that 20 per cent of the electrical energy used there can be used as district heating. Anyone who owns a heat pump will only smile at anything below 300 per cent. And looking at other data centre projects around the world, we should ask ourselves what price we are willing to pay.
Instead, we should be talking about how to strengthen our revenue sustainably. Which technologies of the future can we attract that promise real, long-term value creation rather than short-term hype? The coming changes in industry and the economy, driven by climate change and the goal of carbon neutrality, offer opportunities for rural areas too.
In our view, the budget before us takes the right approach. Our group will vote in favour and will follow its implementation constructively and attentively.
Thank you for your attention. I wish you and your families happy holidays, and all of us a successful start to the new year.
Oliver Thissen
Group leader
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