Local Town Hall

• The situation is currently unstable; the local authority is in a difficult position
• Trade tax has seen a massive slump
• Six years without economic growth
• The deficit currently stands at €14 million
• Money that comes from the countryside doesn’t go up in value either
• This will not cover the increase in costs
• The cutbacks are also likely to affect the council’s services
• On 22 June 2026, the 2026 budget will be discussed and adopted
• Despite the budgetary situation, investments must be made wisely
• Of the city’s €140 million, €60 million is currently allocated to the district of Offenbach for schools, social benefits, etc.
• Revenue is not sufficient to cover costs

• Ensuring the infrastructure is in place
• Action plans must be updated

Further information on civil protection

• The city councillors have taken up their posts

• A strategy has been drawn up and published
• The main focus is on providing housing
• The character of the town must be preserved
• The strategic development of the city is important

Further information can be found under ‘Inner-city regeneration’

• Refurbishment of Friedrich-Ebert-Straße in three construction phases (start: 11 May).
• Costs for property connections vary from case to case; flat-rate charges are not possible.
• The date of invoicing is still to be confirmed; support will be provided by the municipal utilities if required.
• Action taken due to dilapidated pipes and frequent pipe bursts.
• A request for early information regarding the costs involved.

Further information can be found under ‘Renovation of the drinking water supply’

• No increase in property tax in the 2025 budget; the assessment rate has been adjusted following the property tax reform and a fall in property values.
• The aim of the reform: no overall increase in property tax revenue from 1 January 2025.
• Cost-cutting measures are being examined as part of the budget consolidation (including staffing, grounds maintenance and services).
• An increase in property tax B this year is likely.
• A tight budgetary situation caused by falling revenue, a lack of growth and high district contributions.

Further information can be found under ‘Changes to taxes and charges 2026’

• Residents criticised the parking situation, the lack of traffic enforcement and the absence of the public order department.
• The public order police currently have 9 out of 12 posts filled; offences should continue to be reported, and additional digital reporting channels are being considered.
• Increased checks at Goetheplatz and a call for mutual consideration.
• Speed checks carried out on the main road confirmed that regular checks were taking place; depending on the check, between 15 and 63 warnings and between 0 and 4 fines were issued, with the speed limit set at 43–60 km/h.
• Schillerstraße: The aim remains to widen the junction, provided that the adjacent plot of land can be acquired.
• Relocation of the zebra crossing: Due to the new, modern lighting, which would have overlapped with the street lighting, the pedestrian crossing was moved.

• The analysis of the current situation regarding municipal heating planning is almost complete; measures are to be drawn up by the second half of the year.
• The aim is to develop a long-term heating plan based on the data collected.
• A workshop involving companies and experts, as well as a hybrid information session, are planned.
• Suitable areas for district heating networks are to be identified by the end of the year.

Further information can be found under ‘Municipal Heat Planning’

• There is interest from businesses in ground-mounted photovoltaic systems.
• Facilities are planned, in particular, along federal roads and motorways.
• The city has no right of objection, but seeks to influence the planning process through dialogue with investors and to prevent excessive development projects.

• The gardens on Bahnhofsstraße are situated in a designated floodplain.
• In accordance with the Offenbach district’s regulations, structures must be removed.
• The Lower Water Authority of the Offenbach district is responsible.

• The issue of increasing litter in urban areas, particularly along the S-Bahn line and in public spaces, was raised.
• The city’s cleaning department is drawing up a package of measures; additional checks and an increase in staffing levels are being considered.
• Mobile cleaning teams are out and about every day, but further measures could lead to higher waste collection charges.
• The possibility of installing CCTV at specific problem areas is being considered; the decision rests with the politicians.
• It is difficult to enforce penalties for littering offences due to limited enforcement capabilities.
• Residents praised the rapid response of the municipal utilities to reports of pollution
  

How to report illegal fly-tipping

• Complaints were made about the state of upkeep of the compensation area on the extended Schillerstraße.
• The site is privately owned and is subject to a maintenance agreement with the district of Offenbach.
• The council will draw the owner’s attention to the state of maintenance.

• An infestation of oak processionary moths has been reported in the green space on Häuserweg.
• Reports can be sent to the council by email at any time.
• An annual preventative treatment is carried out; acute infestations are treated separately.

• The issue of overgrown shrubs and hedges encroaching onto pavements was raised; the Public Order Office is providing targeted information to local residents and making information material available.
• The lack of trees planted in the extended Lidl car park is being investigated.
• The parking space regulations generally provide for trees to be planted in car parks.
• The failure to plant a replacement tree following the felling of a tree on Hainhäuser Straße is being investigated; possible reasons include a lack of space or existing utility lines.

• The issue of the temporary bus stop on Bahnhofsstraße was discussed.
• Due to the need to maintain a regular timetable and the narrow entrance to Häuser Weg, the bus is currently unable to access the station directly.
• The timetables and route plans are determined by the district transport authority.

• The issue of street lighting failures at the start of the year was raised.
• The cause was an error on the part of the network operator ENO.
• Faults can be reported at any time via the municipal utilities’ emergency number and will be passed on as appropriate.

• The situation is currently unstable and the local authority is in a difficult position
• Trade tax has seen a massive slump
• Six years without economic growth
• The deficit currently stands at €14 million
• Money that comes from the countryside doesn’t go up in value either
• This will not cover the increase in costs
• The cutbacks are also likely to affect the council’s services
• On 22 June 2026, the 2026 budget will be discussed and adopted
• Despite the budgetary situation, investments must be made wisely
• Of the city’s €140 million, €60 million is currently allocated to the district of Offenbach for schools, social benefits, etc.
• Revenue is not sufficient to cover costs

• Ensuring the infrastructure is in place
• Action plans must be updated

Further information on civil protection

• The construction project is scheduled to begin in mid-July

Further information on the construction site on Wilhelm-Leuschner-Straße

• The issue of increasing litter in urban areas, particularly along the S-Bahn line and in public spaces, was raised.
• The city’s cleaning department is drawing up a package of measures; additional checks and an increase in staffing levels are being considered.
• Mobile cleaning teams are out and about every day, but further measures could lead to higher waste collection charges.
• The possibility of installing CCTV at specific problem areas is being considered; the decision rests with the politicians.
• It is difficult to enforce penalties for littering offences due to limited enforcement capabilities.
• Residents praised the municipal utilities’ swift response to reports of pollution.

• Complaints about reckless bus driving and traffic offences are passed on to the relevant authorities.
• The issue of parking in the neighbourhoods was discussed; the use of garages and private parking spaces is recommended. The Offenbach district is responsible for monitoring garages.
• The city is carrying out a pilot scheme to monitor authorised parking spaces once construction has been completed; offences may be penalised.
• Damage to the speed camera at the district junction is being investigated.
• The parking situation at the church in Hainhausen was raised; the parish was made aware of the issue, and it was recommended that people use the Lidl car park.
• Reports of illegal parking by members of the public are permitted; please note that a witness is required when making a complaint.
• An investigation is underway into the illegal parking of a municipal utility vehicle on Martin-Bihn-Straße, and staff are being made aware of the issue.
• The bus stop in Hainhausen is to be redesigned next year, with the aim of improving accessibility, reducing impervious surfaces and enhancing the quality of the public space.
• The request for a larger outdoor area for the pizzeria has been noted.
• An inspection of an oversized motorhome on Hannah-Ahrendt-Straße is being arranged.
• Consideration is being given to re-installing speed cameras on Rodgau-Ring-Straße; the decision on the location does not rest solely with the city.
• The short green phase of the pedestrian traffic lights on Rodgau-Ring-Straße is being investigated.

• Information on the diversions on Wilhelm-Leuschner-Straße is available online.
• The ‘right before left’ rule at the junction of Wilhelm-Leuschner-Straße and Humboldtstraße remains in force.
• Reports of reckless driving and speeding at the roundabout are being investigated.

Further information on the construction site on Wilhelm-Leuschner-Straße

• The development of the derelict sites next to the former Emge butcher’s shop and the site of the soot factory was discussed.
• The council has no direct control over the private land next to the former butcher’s shop.
• The site of the soot factory is also privately owned; remediation measures are currently being coordinated with the Regional Council.
• Once the consultations have been completed, it will be possible to assess what future uses or development are feasible.

• The issue of funding for lighting at the woodland leisure centre was discussed.
• IGEMO’s long-standing wish was realised last year thanks to funds that had become available.
• The lighting improves safety and can be controlled precisely using a demand-based switching system.

• The current approach to beavers was discussed.
• The beaver remains a strictly protected species, and efforts are being made to have the regulations amended by the State of Hesse.
• In future, it should be possible to act more swiftly in the event of attacks on critical infrastructure.
• Two beaver dams are to be lowered.
• The state of Hesse supports a relaxation of the protection regulations for beavers, wolves and cormorants.

• The current situation regarding the water damage at Nursery 7 was discussed.
• The refurbishment works are currently being put out to tender.
• The aim is to carry out the work as promptly as possible, particularly the noisy and dust-generating activities, during the summer holidays.

• The situation is currently unstable and the local authority is in a difficult position
• Trade tax has seen a massive slump
• Six years without economic growth
• The deficit currently stands at €14 million
• Money that comes from the countryside doesn’t go up in value either
• This will not cover the increase in costs
• The cutbacks are also likely to affect the council’s services
• On 22 June 2026, the 2026 budget will be discussed and adopted
• Despite the budgetary situation, investments must be made wisely
• Of the city’s €140 million, €60 million is currently allocated to the district of Offenbach for schools, social benefits, etc.
• Revenue is not sufficient to cover costs

• A decline in business rates revenue due to the weak economic situation and lower corporate profits.
• This development affects all local authorities in the Offenbach district.
• City councillors are currently reviewing cost-saving measures and prioritisation, and possible cuts to non-essential services are being considered.
• The largest areas of expenditure are contributions to Offenbach District and childcare.
• Local authorities have raised the issue of their strained financial situation with the state and central government; discussions are planned at central government level

Further information can be found under ‘Changes to taxes and charges 2026’

• The issue of free nursery places was raised; this is based on an earlier decision to promote equal educational opportunities.
• The political groups on the City Council currently have no plans to reintroduce fees for the over-3s.
• Nursery fees will continue to be charged for the U3 group; from now on, lunch will be provided on a cost-recovery basis across all groups.
• The quality of the food will remain the same; the aim is simply to cover the costs.
• Possible cost-saving measures mentioned included, amongst others, shorter childcare hours, delaying the filling of vacancies, digitalisation, cutbacks in park and garden maintenance, and adjustments to street cleaning services.
• Support for voluntary organisations is also being reviewed as part of the budgetary consolidation process.

Further information can be found under ‘Changes to taxes and charges 2026’

• The aim is to reduce staff costs, in particular through natural staff turnover, such as staff retiring or leaving the organisation.

• A proposal for a school project to identify tree species in Rodaupark using information via QR codes has been accepted.
• The annual mowing of the Rodau side is carried out to maintain and preserve low-growing woodland structures.
• There have been calls for work to begin on the bridge at Rodaupark sooner than previously announced.
• The spread of nutria in Rodaupark and the potential damage to trees were discussed.
• Extending the cycle path towards Hainhausen remains a long-term aim; however, there are legal restrictions due to the floodplain.
• The issue of compliance with the dog-leash rule in Rodaupark was raised; however, enforcement is limited due to the difficulty in providing evidence.
• Stricter checks are being considered at a political level, but would entail additional staff costs.

• The spread of mouse barley within the urban area and the potential danger to dogs were discussed.
• More intensive control would only be possible through more frequent mowing, but this is not feasible.

• A proposal to increase the number of parking spaces on Kasseler Straße and Friedlandstraße is being considered.
• The installation of traffic mirrors is no longer being carried out due to the duty to ensure road safety and the amount of monitoring required.
• It is not currently possible to improve the path behind the old soot factory due to nature conservation regulations.
• Speed checks at the Triangel were discussed; speed measurements are carried out regularly at suitable locations.
• The measurements show that the majority of vehicles are driving within the permitted limits; there are no identified accident blackspots within the urban area.
• The city referred to the mobility plan for traffic management and the promotion of cycling.
• The success of the traffic management measures was attributed to the widespread elimination of kerbside parking.
• An assessment of the parking arrangements on Ludwigstraße in Jügesheim is being carried out.
• In principle, the city wishes to retain as many parking spaces as possible, particularly for shoppers.

• The condition of the plot on Ludwigstraße has come in for criticism due to building rubble and a lack of maintenance.
• The plot has already been registered with the building control authority; development is planned for the medium term, and the local development plan is due to be finalised by the end of the year.
• The owner had promised to carry out improvements, but has not yet taken any action.
• Due to the nature of private ownership, the city has only limited scope for action.
• The introduction of a ‘C’ property tax was mentioned as a possible measure to encourage the development of derelict land.

• The introduction of the rodgaucard at the recycling centre was explained.
• The aim is to expand the range of services in the future, including the disposal of certain types of waste for a fee.
• The card is used for payment and identification, with a view to further automating processes in future.
• In the medium term, there are plans to introduce a digital booking system with self-service access to the recycling centre.
• The use of the rodgaucard when shopping complies with data protection regulations; partners do not receive any information about purchases.

Further information on the Rodgau Card at the recycling centre and for composting