In view of the high burdens caused by rising energy prices, the district of Munich will redesignate its Corona aid fund into an energy aid fund. The pot financed by donations is intended to help people who are in financial need through no fault of their own. The district council’s social committee initiated the rededication, but criticism of the high advertising costs for the donation campaign, which some district councilors felt, was also voiced. By the end of October, the district had generated a little more than 53,000 euros in donations for the Corona aid fund, of which almost 50,000 euros had been distributed – in contrast, around 40,000 euros were spent on advertising materials and advertisements.
SPD parliamentary group spokesman Florian Schardt criticized these costs in the social committee and also referred to the additional work in the administration of the district office, which was incurred as a result of the campaign. However, Schardt from Ottobrunn did not question the effect of the Corona aid fund: “Apart from the high marketing costs, there is nothing to complain about. We should continue with it and help unbureaucratically.” Sauerlach’s Mayor Barbara Bogner (Free Voters) was disappointed by what she saw as the low level of donations. “We did so much advertising for it and there are so many well-earning people in the Munich district. There are 53,000 nothing at all,” said Bogner. Nevertheless, she also spoke out in favor of continuing the emergency aid fund.
District Administrator Christoph Göbel (CSU) admitted that he too had promised more from the campaign. Possibly, according to Göbel, the fund went under “in the mix of other relief efforts in society, by the federal and state governments”. Nevertheless, the district administrator justified the advertising costs. “They came about because we had an advertising line developed. In the future, such high costs will no longer be incurred,” he said.
Nobody questions the usefulness of the donation pot
Without an advertising budget, however, a six-figure amount of donations has already been collected in Kirchheim. Mayor Maximilian Böltl (CSU) set up the “Citizens Help Citizens” fund there, which is intended to support people in need locally. According to Böltl, the campaign was only advertised in the Kirchheim community newspaper. And of course, as the mayor of the town, he can actively ask for donations at events and appointments. “It’s logical that those who want to donate should first see what’s closest. In other words, in the city or municipality where they live or where the company is based,” says Böltl. “So it’s also clear that a local structure like our fund has higher revenues.”
The district has it much more difficult to address people directly, which is why it has to rely on advertising measures. But Böltl is also clearly in favor of continuing the district’s emergency aid fund: “The district can help where there is no help locally. I prefer to have a double network so that nobody falls through.”
The network of the district remains stretched. However, the district fund will not be transferred to a foundation, as initially envisaged by District Administrator Göbel. The Social Committee rejected this.