Grünwald was the first municipality in Germany to grant parents a municipal child-raising allowance. She has been paying 100 euros a month since 2008. Now, according to an application made at the citizens’ meeting in October, she should have increased her grants to 150 euros, which the municipal council unanimously rejected on Tuesday.
The finance committee had already decided that the additional services to compensate for the increased energy prices would not serve the purpose of the municipal child-raising allowance. Families are already significantly supported by very low fees in the day-care centers, the argument goes. In addition, sufficient funds from foundations and donations as well as other funds from the community budget are available for families in need in the community due to price increases, for example through the Hammel’sche Social Foundation, the Grünwald Social Foundation and the Zirwas-Dodell Foundation.
According to the town hall administration, 499 parents (as of September 12) of the 700 possible beneficiaries have submitted an application and the municipality paid out 669,000 euros. In the 2022 budget, 800,000 euros are planned for the child-raising allowance.