SPD criticizes NRW budget for underfunding children and municipalities

North Rhine-Westphalia's SPD opposition is challenging the state government's 2027 budget proposal, asserting that it falls short of promised investments in children, education, and local authorities. Christian Dahm, vice-chairman of the SPD parliamentary group, argued that while the budget is set to reach a record 115.5 billion euros, the allocation for children, schools, universities, and daycare centers is insufficient.

Dahm pointed out that the planned spending increase for these crucial areas is only 1.8 percent, falling below the overall budget growth of approximately three percent. He criticized the government for not fulfilling key coalition promises, such as a third year of free daycare and improved free school supplies, with state elections looming in eight months.

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Black-Green remains halfway.

The SPD also voiced strong criticism regarding support for municipalities. Dahm stated that the proposed increase in the municipalities' share of state tax revenue, from 23% to 23.5%, would only prevent an absolute decrease in funding, not provide the structural relief cities and towns desperately need. The party advocates for a significant increase in the "Verbundsatz" (a share of tax revenue) to at least 25 percent and argues that existing measures for old debt relief are insufficient to address the chronic underfunding that has led to record deficits for NRW municipalities.

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Instead of the urgently needed structural relief for cities and municipalities, the mini-increase of around 290 million to 17.1 billion euros is merely a small repair measure.