Overview
- The Left collected about 40,000 signatures, of which roughly 23,000 count due to an April 1 cutoff, still clearing the approximately 21,500-signature quorum.
- The city’s legal office advised declaring the initiative admissible, but an external NOERR opinion found it inadmissible for lacking a sufficient funding plan, which Mayor Dirk Hilbert endorsed.
- Initiators forecast around €18 million in extra costs and pointed to grants, SachsenEnergie profits and higher business tax, yet the city calculates a shortfall of at least €11.4 million.
- The recommendation drew strong objections from initiative backers, Verdi, the TU student council and SPD figures, while Team Zastrow supports rejection and argues DVB needs reform.
- If the council upholds Hilbert’s proposal there will be no referendum, as DVB separately flags an aging bus fleet with about 30 of 170 vehicles needing replacement and six new e-buses due by early 2027.