City of Jena and Stadtwerke Jena provide information on the 2026 financial situation

The City of Jena and Stadtwerke Jena have held a joint press conference on the financial situation in 2026. The focus was on the city's current budget situation and the key points of the Stadtwerke Group's economic planning - and thus the question of how central tasks of general interest can be reliably financed in the coming years.

A municipal subsidy will still be required in 2026 for local public transport and the conversion of the swimming pools: €7.4 million is expected for 2026; this amount is already anchored in the municipal budget. At the same time, Stadtwerke Jena is pressing ahead with its investment projects: €24.4 million (over the renovation period) has been budgeted for the energy-efficient conversion of the GalaxSea leisure pool. Around EUR 45 million is to be invested in the energy and heating transition in 2026; a further EUR 50 million or so is earmarked for the refurbishment of jenawohnen GmbH's properties. In total, the Stadtwerke Jena Group's total investments will amount to around EUR 150 million in 2026; around EUR 165 million is planned for 2027.

Mayor and Head of Finance Benjamin Koppe explains:

"The current situation clearly shows the challenges we are facing in the municipal association. Jena is not in a special situation, but in a development that is affecting municipalities nationwide. In key areas such as local transport, energy, swimming pools and housing, the Stadtwerke Group is confronted with considerable financial requirements, while the available revenue and financing scope is limited. This development coincides with the city's overall tight budget situation with declining income, increasing compulsory expenditure and therefore limited scope. At the same time, the relationship between the city and municipal utilities has changed: For many years, the municipal utilities have stabilized the municipal budget through distributions; today, the municipal budget makes a financial contribution to securing the municipal utilities. Against this backdrop, it is important to secure services of general interest in the long term, even under challenging financial conditions."

The city of Jena is facing considerable economic challenges overall. The city administration imposed a budget freeze at the beginning of the year. The trend requires a consistent focus; budget planning will be particularly challenging this year. However, the city of Jena will have to prioritize even more clearly in the future in order to secure its financial ability to act in the long term.

Stadtwerke Jena GmbH presented the key points of its economic planning for 2026. The aim remains to maintain the economic performance of the Stadtwerke Group despite the high level of transformation tasks and at the same time to implement the necessary investments in security of supply, climate neutrality and infrastructure.

"For us, the coming years will be dominated by transformation. This requires courage, planning security and clear priorities. Our investments in the energy and heating transition are necessary in order to continue supplying Jena with reliable, affordable and climate-neutral energy in the future," said Claudia Budich, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Jena. "The fact that we are maintaining a stable economic foundation despite increasing demands is an important signal for the city and for our customers."

In addition to the energy projects, investments in other central infrastructures of the Stadtwerke Jena Group also remain high - in particular in local transport and the renovation of the GalaxSea leisure pool.

Stadtwerke Managing Director Tobias Wolfrum emphasized:

"We know the goal and are setting out to secure Jena's future viability with a modern local transport service and an attractive leisure pool. Our economic planning shows this: We are acting with foresight, responsibly and in close cooperation with the city."

Stellten gemeinsam wichtige Eckpunkte für Haushalts- und Investitionsplanung der Stadt Jena sowie der Stadtwerke Gruppe vor: (v.l.n.r.) Jennifer Michall (Kämmerin der Stadt Jena), Benjamin Koppe (Bürgermeister und Finanzdezernent der Stadt Jena), Claudia

© Stadt Jena