State parliament adopts double budget 2022/23

Berlin's Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey speaks during the plenary session in the House of Representatives

The Berlin state budget for 2022/23 has been passed. It has a total volume of more than 76 billion euros.

Late on Thursday evening, the House of Representatives, with its red-green-red majority, approved the budget law that regulates the finances of the state of Berlin for 2022 and 2023. The CDU, FDP and AfD voted against. "Never before has so much been invested in this city," said Finance Senator Daniel Wesener on Thursday at the last plenary session before the summer break. 38.7 billion euros are planned for 2022, then 37.9 billion euros for 2023.

Focus on job expansion in the public sector and housing construction

A considerable part of the funds is earmarked for personnel expenditure: In both years, more than 11 billion euros have been earmarked. The signs are pointing to further job expansion in the public service, for example in the police and fire brigade. The state also wants to make progress in housing construction. Berlin wants to complete a total of 100,000 new flats by the end of 2026. 750 million euros have been earmarked for housing construction in each of the two years of the double budget. The Berlin School Construction Offensive (BSO) is also to make progress. Around 700 million euros per year are earmarked for school construction in the budget law.

Reserve planned for rising energy prices

In the event of further increases in energy prices, a reserve of 380 million euros has been planned for correspondingly higher expenditures at public authorities. This includes 50 million euros for the so-called emergency plan. The funds are intended to help Berliners who, for example, can no longer pay their electricity bills. In addition, 650 million euros per year have been budgeted for the accommodation, care and integration of refugees - especially for Ukrainian war refugees. The greater part of this sum is covered by the federal government.