Slow Reimbursement of Costs by the Free State to Municipalities - Saxony races to clear €75 million in unpaid bills for unaccompanied minors
Saxony's State Youth Welfare Office is bolstering its staff to tackle a mountain of unpaid invoices from 2024 and 2025, aiming to clear the backlog by March 2023. The surge in unaccompanied minors since early 2022 has led to a sharp increase in claims from municipalities.
The office is set to deploy additional personnel to process the outstanding bills, with the official in charge not explicitly named. The city of Leipzig is owed nearly €15 million, Dresden €6.2 million, and Chemnitz just under €3.7 million. Municipal youth welfare offices are responsible for accommodating and supporting unaccompanied minors, with federal and state governments meant to cover the expenses.
Digitization is expected to streamline future reimbursements. Currently, local authorities in Saxony are awaiting a total of €75 million in reimbursements for housing and caring for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. The Green Party has called for faster processing, demanding that invoices be settled within a maximum of 90 days.
The State Youth Welfare Office is taking steps to clear the backlog of unpaid invoices by March 2023. Digitization is expected to improve future Outlook email processing times. The Green Party has urged faster settlement of claims, with local authorities awaiting a significant sum in Microsoft Office 365 reimbursements.
