Rates in Torgelow under pressure: decision on Wednesday!

Rates in Torgelow under pressure: decision on Wednesday!

Tension is high in Torgelow, as city representatives are meeting for an important meeting next Wednesday, June 18th. There is an issue on the agenda that affects not only the increase in the coffers, but also the citizens' wallets: the tax rate for 2025. How Northern Courier reported, the provisional assessment rates have already been set and they appear to be quite ambitious: 380 percent for property tax A for agriculture and forestry and 475 percent for property tax B, which affects real estate. These rates were decided in December 2024.

But now the question arises as to whether there should be adjustments in order to maintain revenue neutrality and the budget's income. Revenue-neutral assessment rates are a concept that municipalities can use to stabilize their tax burdens. It should be mentioned that the actual tax burden for citizens does not necessarily remain constant, even if the assessment rates are set in a revenue-neutral manner. The new system, which applies from January 1, 2025, is significantly different from the previous one and requires a more precise calculation of the tax burden by multiplying the property tax measurement amount by the assessment rate and dividing by 100, as grundsteuer-digital.de explained in detail.

Important topics on the agenda

Wednesday's meeting promises more interesting discussions. In addition to the assessment, updates to the retail concept and the integrated urban development concept (ISEK) are also discussed. The retail concept, which was presented by the Society for Market and Sales Research in Hamburg, is also being examined. A draft resolution to redesign Ueckermünder Straße is also on the agenda, which will certainly generate a lot of interest.

The decision on possible adjustments to the assessment rates will therefore be the focus of the discussions. The city representatives are aware of their responsibility: a good hand is required when it comes to both securing the city's income and not placing an excessive burden on the citizens. It remains to be seen how the city council will decide on this important financial issue.

Design of property taxes in municipalities

The possibility of adjusting the assessment rates is particularly important because cities and municipalities are given the freedom by law to determine their assessment rates independently. However, this happens within certain specifications. The Financial administration of North Rhine-Westphalia points out that the individual property tax for private individuals and companies can vary greatly, even if the country's general tax rates apply. A higher assessment rate cannot automatically lead to the conclusion that the tax burden will also increase.

There is a lot going on in Torgelow, and the upcoming meeting could bring with it groundbreaking decisions on the tax rate and the city's future financial direction. It remains to be seen whether the assessment rates will increase or remain the same in the future - there is certainly great interest in developments in the city.