Kommunen

"Kommunen" in the context of these articles refers to German municipalities. They are newsworthy due to two key issues: property tax revenue and mandatory climate change insurance. Regarding property tax, a recent report by the Statistisches Bundesamt indicated that nationwide property tax revenue for all municipalities remained unchanged in the previous year. However, further investigation by WELT AM SONNTAG revealed variations across individual federal states, suggesting that initial promises regarding the Grundsteuer (property tax) may not have been universally fulfilled. Secondly, municipalities are central to the ongoing debate about mandatory Elementarschadenversicherung (insurance against natural disasters). The discussion revolves around whether homeowners should be legally required to insure against climate change-related damages. The relevance stems from the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events and the financial burden these events place on both individuals and municipalities.