Overview
- Saarland’s parliament declared an “extraordinary emergency,” clearing roughly €906 million in borrowing for 2026–2027 without breaching the debt brake.
- The county of Weilheim-Schongau approved its 2026 budget by holding the Kreisumlage steady and debt-financing a reclassified capital increase for its hospital, drawing criticism over legality and long-term costs.
- Hesse’s Werra-Meißner-Kreis narrowly avoided raising its Kreisumlage after a lower-than-expected clinic subsidy need and bookable state aid improved the 2026 math, though parties still pressed for structural savings.
- Public broadcasters MDR, BR and SR approved 2026 economic plans with deficits; MDR imposed a €10 million precautionary freeze and is cutting output after the stalled fee increase, BR projects a €96 million loss covered by reserves, and SR plans a €4.5 million shortfall with targeted spending holds.
- Brandenburg’s audit office warned of record new debt and urged spending restraint, while Saxony entered budget talks facing a gap of up to €4.2 billion for 2027/2028 despite limited new borrowing now permitted for Länder.