From Hildburg Bruns
Ping pong, the Berlin authorities’ favorite game when it comes to jurisdiction, is blown off. The governor Kai Wegner (51, CDU) and twelve district mayors want to divide the cooperation between the Senate and the districts more clearly. To the advantage of Berliners.
What needs to be eliminated above all: duplicate or unclear responsibilities. Example Berlin Marathon. The organizer actually has to obtain permits from each individual district through which the running route runs. An unnecessary authorities marathon! This can also be decided centrally.
Other advice pieces (there are still many workshops to come):
Finance: The division between the state and districts should be reorganized. Most of them currently only receive money for compulsory tasks (e.g. social assistance) and have no leeway. Own tax income – none! If, for example, they were involved in trade tax, their involvement in new company settlements would be greater – the whole of Berlin would benefit from this.
Pay: The salary structure varies between states and districts. For example, anyone who works on a development plan at Senate level earns E13 (from 4,188 euros), while in the district they only earn E11 (from 3,652 euros). Or food inspectors who in one district can only get on the A8 (from 2,603 euros), but in other federal states on the A9 (from 2,762 euros).
Köpenick’s Mayor Oliver Igel (SPD): “Districts and the Senate should not compete with each other when it comes to staff – we already have that in Berlin thanks to the federal government.”
Wegner on the reform: “We need positive incentives, more scope for action and want to end the confusion in the city.”
Berlin wants to present the entire administrative reform package at the end of 2024. In parliament, the CDU/SPD coalition needs the votes of the Greens because the constitution also needs to be changed.