Schramberg City Council Delays Decision on €12.7 Million Infrastructure Grant

The Schramberg city council has postponed a decision on how to allocate a €12.7 million grant received through the state and local infrastructure financing law (LuKIFG). The funds, available over twelve years, are being considered for either renovations to the existing high school or investment in a new school campus.

Non-Binding Decision and Funding Availability

Treasurer Klemens Walter explained the decision was “non-binding,” and the full amount could theoretically be accessed at once. Nationwide, a total of €100 billion is available through the LuKIFG, with €13.1 billion allocated to the state of Baden-Württemberg. Questions remain regarding the application process, as noted by council member Tanja Witkowski (SPD/Buntspecht).

Debate Between High School Renovation and New School Campus

The debate centers on whether to use the funds for immediate improvements to the high school or to invest in a future-oriented school campus project. Udo Neudeck (Free List/New List) suggested that investing in the school campus would have a different impact than renovating the existing high school, but acknowledged that utilizing the subsidy for high school renovations would be “more sensible” before incurring debt.

Mayor Dorothee Eisenlohr shared this opinion. Although, City Councilor Thomas Brantner (CDU) cautioned that allocating the funds to the high school would limit future options, arguing that investing in the school campus represents an investment in the future. Brantner proposed delaying the decision, a motion that ultimately passed.

Additional High School Modernization Approvals

The city council also approved moving forward with the modernization and renovation of the high school by authorizing the tendering of specialist planning services for heating, ventilation, plumbing (€430,000) and electrical systems (€950,000).