Census Alteration Criticized by Fulda: Disputed Decrease in Population Unacceptable
Fulda, a city in Germany, has disputed the population determination in the 2022 census conducted by the Hessian State Statistical Office (HSL), claiming an undercount of residents. This challenge is significant as the official population figure directly affects the city's financial allocations from the state and federal governments.
Mayor Dr. Heiko Wingenfeld has emphasised that the HSL has not been able to explain conclusively how it came to the alleged population loss in Fulda. The city council, in a unanimous decision, has taken legal action against the determination of its population in the 2022 census.
The potential financial implications for Fulda are substantial. Population counts from censuses are used as a basis for distributing public funds, including allocations for social services, infrastructure, and other municipal needs. A lower recorded population would mean Fulda receives less funding than justified by its actual number of residents, which could impact city budgets and local services.
The city's municipal registration office is always the planning basis for Fulda, and the discrepancy between the census numbers and the registration office records is concerning. According to Wingenfeld, the approach of the census seems to have little to do with the reality in the municipalities.
The consumption parameters of the local energy and water supplier, the sewage association, the situation on the housing market, and the steadily increasing demand for Kindergarten (Kitas) and primary schools in Fulda speak for a growing population, not for a massive decrease.
Shortly after the publication of the census data in the summer of 2024, the city of Fulda filed an objection with the HSL regarding the statistical population determination. The HSL determined the population of Fulda as of May 15, 2022, to be 64,705 residents, which is significantly lower than the 69,325 residents registered in Fulda at that time.
The legally confirmed decrease in population would have significant consequences for the city of Fulda, particularly in terms of financial implications as some of the state's financial allocations are linked to the census figures. For the year 2025, this would amount to a net deterioration of around 6.5 million euros for the city of Fulda.
The city cannot treat more than 4,600 residents as non-existent due to the census. Wingenfeld also stated that there are no indications that the municipal registration office is incorrect to such an extent. In times of tight budgets, the federal and state governments should bolster the financial power of cities and municipalities, rather than relying on statistics that further weaken it, according to the mayor.
The HSL has rejected this objection after months of delay, and the city of Fulda has now appealed this rejection. The exact financial figures related to Fulda's dispute with the Hessian State Statistical Office were not available at the time of writing, but this type of census dispute typically revolves around underrepresentation in population data leading to unfavorable fiscal consequences for the municipality involved. Consulting official statements from the City of Fulda or the Hessian State Statistical Office would be necessary for more precise details about Fulda’s case.
In light of the discrepancy between the census numbers and the city's municipal registration office records, the city council has taken legal action against the policy-and-legislation decision made by the Hessian State Statistical Office (HSL), citing politics and general-news implications, as the official population figure directly affects the city's financial allocations from the state and federal governments. The city's legal dispute with the HSL revolves around underrepresentation in population data leading to unfavorable financial consequences, raising concerns about the accuracy of policy-and-legislation and the impact on local politics.
