"Local authorities are currently facing huge challenges: The energy crisis, climate protection, the accommodation and care of refugees (including in daycare centers and schools) in nurseries and schools), the education offensive, ensuring medical care, making ÖPNV more attractive, reducing the billion-euro investment backlog, adequate funding for local authorities and bureaucratic requirements - these are the key challenges for the next electoral term from 2022 to 2027," said the association's leaders, President Frank Klingebiel (Lord Mayor of Salzgitter), Vice President Jürgen Krogmann (Lord Mayor of Oldenburg) and Managing Director Dr. Jan Arning.

In connection with the energy crisis, NST President Klingebiel warned: "We are in an economic war with Russia. Our top priority must be to maintain social cohesion and preserve social peace in our urban society. We must do everything we can to maintain people's trust in our state and acceptance of the sanctions against Russia. That is why all energy-saving measures must be necessary, appropriate and proportionate. Do what is necessary with a sense of proportion! The federal and state governments must be aware of their special responsibility in this situation and act with the utmost sensitivity. All levels of government can only master these challenges together and in close cooperation. The Liverpool FC stadium anthem "You'll never walk alone", rightly quoted by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, must be brought to life by the federal and state governments without delay."

NST Vice-President Krogmann added: "We have in mind subsidies and relief measures that reach consumers directly, quickly and unbureaucratically. In order not to jeopardize social peace, those who need help must not fall through the net. The federal and state governments must not just focus on benefit recipients."

According to the head of the NST association, the accommodation of refugees poses considerable challenges for the municipalities between Emden and Hann. Münden and between Lüchow and Bad Bentheim: "The state must quickly build up its own capacities to accommodate refugees and relieve the burden on the municipalities. The standard reductions in nurseries and schools regulated by the state at our urgent request until the end of 2022 must be extended at all costs."

NST Vice President Krogmann: "A survey by the Lower Saxony Association of Cities and Towns among its members has shown that the municipalities are at their limit. Some municipalities have to accommodate refugees in sports halls and gyms again." At the same time, according to President Klingebiel, the distribution of refugees must be announced earlier: "This is the only way for local authorities to remain capable of acting locally. The Ministry of the Interior has already picked up the ball and we will be holding further talks shortly."

According to the NST, the central issue for the new state government must be efficient municipal structures. "In order to guarantee efficiency and, for example, to implement the legal entitlement to a nursery place and all-day care, we need permanently adequate and reliable municipal funding," says President Klingebiel: "The combined tax ratio must at least be increased from the current 15.5 percent (Section 1 NFVG) to 16.5 percent and the state subsidy SGB II must be transferred undiminished to the municipal financial equalization system. At the same time, we are calling on the federal and state governments to finally implement an old debt regulation for municipalities that does justice to the constitutional principle of equal living conditions in all municipalities. Despite federal and state support, many cities and municipalities currently have to finance their crisis management measures with loans, which will take away their breathing space in the long term."

"The principle of connectivity 'Whoever orders the music must also pay for it' is enshrined in Lower Saxony's constitution," explains NST Vice President Krogmann: "However, this principle must also be strictly adhered to and, above all, put into practice."

"Local authorities must be put back in a position to fulfill their tasks and implement the funds available for investment as part of funding programs," says President Klingebiel. The first two municipal investment packages, KIP I and KIP II, had worked well in contrast to the current funding programs because the municipalities had been given the necessary creative freedom, Klingebiel and Krogmann agreed. The Association of Cities and Towns of Lower Saxony is calling for an effective reduction in bureaucracy - in particular, the existing funding jungle must be cleared up.

According to Vice President Krogmann, the complexity of participation procedures must be reduced: "At the same time, procurement and state aid law must be significantly simplified."

"Cities, municipalities and joint municipalities will have to shoulder considerable investments in their basic infrastructure in the coming years," said NST Vice President Krogmann: "We cannot shoulder urgently needed investments in education, ÖPNV and our basic infrastructure - such as transport, hospitals and GP care - alone. The municipal level is dependent on sustained support from the federal and state governments to reduce the immense investment backlog of several billion euros."

"The next state government must tackle these key issues together with the municipalities," said the NST association's leadership: "Ensure the ability to act - master the challenges!"