Social organizations organize emergency overnight stays, among other things.
© dpa
Whether for sports clubs or social organizations, applying for money for projects in Berlin is to become much less bureaucratic.
The Senate passed a corresponding resolution to reform the law on grants on Tuesday. Grants play a significant role in Berlin and the need for reform is huge, said Social Affairs Senator Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD) at the presentation of the results so far.
"The Berlin administration grants 9,000 subsidies per year with a volume of more than two billion euros." This involves a great deal of effort for everyone involved. In some cases, an association with projects in two different districts has to meet completely different requirements. "This is annoying and frustrating for many." There is neither a uniform IT solution nor a central office to help with overarching problems, explained the senator. The Senate has therefore decided on a good two dozen measures. In the next step, the necessary implementing regulations are to be drawn up and come into force in July. "It's about simplification and reducing bureaucracy," said Kiziltepe.
In addition to Kiziltepe's social affairs department, the transport and finance departments also worked on the reform proposals, and the state audit office was also involved. The simplifications include, for example, new rules for funding multi-year projects: In future, it should be possible to submit just one application for this and not a new one every year as before. Less bureaucracy is also planned for the awarding of contracts, for example: Previously, the same rules applied for grants totaling more than 100,000 euros as for a larger construction project, even for small purchases such as a desk chair. In future, a price comparison will no longer be mandatory for chair purchases or similar sums of up to 500 euros. The rules will also be simplified for larger purchases.
Transport Senator Ute Bonde (CDU) emphasized that the reform is not over. "We are continuing." The next important step is digitalization. A corresponding software solution for the administration should be available by July 2027. Finance Senator Stefan Evers (CDU) pointed out that the simplifications were necessary in order to reduce the administrative workload. "The administration will shrink," he said. The reform will continue. "I am prepared to increase the pace at any time," he said.