Mayor Hans Walter calls for more voice for municipalities in Munich”

Mayor Hans Walter calls for more voice for municipalities in Munich”

Bavarian State Parliament, Munich. – An important meeting took place on Saturday in the Bavarian State Parliament when State Parliament President Ilse Aigner invited over 200 mayors from all over Bavaria. The aim was to discuss current challenges and find possible solutions. Among the participants was Hans Walter, the mayor of Kastl, who happily accepted the invitation. “It was high time for such an event,” he said after the meeting. "The small communities have many important issues that often don't get the attention they deserve in the big cities. Our concerns must finally be heard."

The event entitled “Mayors in Conversation” was intended not only to honor the work of local politicians, but also to provide a platform to communicate directly with members of the state parliament and state ministers. In her opening speech, Aigner emphasized the importance of the commitment of local politicians: "Their commitment is crucial for the satisfaction of citizens and trust in our democracy. They are the ones who maintain the roots of our democracy." She called for more appreciation and support for the work of local politicians, not only in words but also in actions.

Important topics in focus

For Hans Walter, this day was a valuable opportunity to draw attention to urgent local issues. In personal conversations with State Parliament President Aigner and Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, he spoke about the challenges facing the municipality of Kastl. “The issues of wind power, the sharp rise in prices for construction projects and fire engines as well as the implementation of the legal right to childcare until after 4 p.m. are particularly important to me,” explained Walter.

Rising construction costs are putting a huge strain on small communities like Kastl, and the expansion of childcare offerings is also reaching financial limits. “We are supposed to take on more and more tasks, but the financial resources remain the same - that cannot work,” he summed up the problem. Caring for children up to the age of 12 is a major challenge for a community like Kastl. “We need new buildings, more staff and longer opening hours – but we don’t have the funds for that.” His message to the state parliament representatives was clear: “Without better financial resources, we will soon no longer be able to act.”

A ray of hope for the future

A small glimmer of hope appeared when Interior Minister Herrmann announced that there could be an increase in funding for fire engines next year. New funding opportunities will also be made available in 2025 for the urgently needed renovation of fire station buildings. “That would be a first step in the right direction,” Hans Walter commented optimistically on this prospect. "But we need a fundamental reassessment of the financial resources of our municipalities. The decisions will be made in Munich and Berlin, while we bear the burden locally."

The congress made it clear that many mayors in the Free State are struggling with similar problems: falling income, increasing expenses and new tasks that are passed on to the municipalities without sufficient financial support. “It is reassuring to know that we are not alone with our worries,” says Hans Walter. “But something has to change now – we finally need concrete action.”

The event in Munich ended with the common conclusion that the concerns of the municipalities must be given greater consideration in the state parliament and the state government. Hans Walter is convinced: "We can only make a difference if we act as one and address our problems loudly. Together we can overcome the challenges - for our communities and the future of our homeland."