By Michael Sauerbier
This book is really infuriating! Brandenburg’s Court of Auditors report lists the government’s wastefulness on 220 pages.
An ambulance for 90,000 euros that hardly drives, free pills and deodorants for police officers, too much funding for sport. The examiner’s list of sins is long. Reason: The Potsdam ministries did not look closely at the use of our tax money.
The biggest waste threatens with the new crisis aid package. Because the state wants to pump two billion euros for this, the people of Brandenburg will soon be spending 450 million a year just on interest and repayment.
Chief auditor Christoph Weiser warns the government: “Desired projects must not be financed with loans!”
The doctors got the police officers free aspirin, athlete’s foot ointment and even deodorant on prescription (symbol image) Photo: stock.adobe
► Greedy police doctors
The police employ seven doctors. All cash in as a part-time job for medical reports and expensive IGeL services (for patients with public health insurance).
Two doctors did not have a permit for this. One even worked while on sick leave. The doctors got the police officers free aspirin, athlete’s foot ointment and even deodorant on prescription.
After a short time, 120 telephone headsets in the situation center were replaced at great expense and could no longer be found Photo: Brandenburg State Audit Office
► Luxury Operations Center
The police paid 4,000 euros for a massage chair in their situation center without comparing prices. But the luxury chair is not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women, for whom it was bought. After a short time, 120 telephone headsets were replaced at great expense and could no longer be found.
► Expenses at state expense
Culture is enriching, they say. That’s right: three Brandenburg cultural associations illegally spent more than 2000 euros on conferences. They settled 34,900 euros as travel expenses. Consistently without proof and approval. In addition, there were inappropriate hospitality. The Ministry of Culture did not control, spent 1.4 million.
► Too few electric charging stations
The Economics Minister provided six million euros for charging stations. The need is enormous. But only 1.7 million were paid out. Because the applications are too complicated, the auditors found.
Consequence: The 357 funded charging points are almost exclusively in the commuter belt. Two thirds of the cities and municipalities have no public charging stations.
This Ford Focus ambulance was not used at all, drove only 357 to 701 kilometers a year Photo: Brandenburg State Audit Office
► Useless ambulance
The police spent 90,000 euros on a small ambulance in 2017, 30,000 more than planned. But the expensive Ford Focus was not needed at all, drove only 357 to 701 kilometers a year. Reason: In 2018, the law enforcement officers bought a large ambulance – with space for the doctor, helper and patient.
► To the office instead of online
Registration, parking permit, housing benefit: the authorities must offer 575 services on the Internet from the end of the year. Brandenburg managed only ten percent of this. Because the Interior Minister has not distributed the necessary program and hired staff, according to the Court of Auditors. Consequence: further to the office instead of digital.
Incorrectly laid guidelines in the pavement lead the visually impaired to stops in front of fences or onto the track Photo: Brandenburg State Audit Office
► Dangerous stops
Brandenburg’s public transport should be barrier-free by January. But they are not – although the state gave the municipalities 48 million euros for this.
Dangerous result: Incorrectly laid guidelines in the pavement lead the visually impaired to fences or onto the track, the auditors found on site.
► Sports association rips off
Sports Minister Britta Ernst (SPD) paid the state sports association one million euros too much in four years. In addition, he gets 330,000 euros a year from other ministries – which the chancellor’s wife doesn’t know. Due to the lack of controls, Ernst’s officials did not notice that the association was exaggerating its needs.