We are pleased that the CDU and FDP parliamentary groups, among others, are now questioning the cost increases at the state theatre, as we have repeatedly requested over the past few years. The refurbishment of the Badisches Staatstheater must be put to the test, and we must also dare to ask what a Badisches Staatstheater in Karlsruhe should look like in terms of dimensions and equipment that still suits our city size and financial strength. In order to do this, it is essential that citizens are heard and that a broad, transparent discourse on the future of the Badisches Staatstheater is initiated.
We cannot agree to the city’s proposal to simply continue building, since the worst-case scenario for us was already set at EUR 320 million as the upper limit in 2020.
In 2014, the municipal council released 125 million as total construction costs and cost ceiling to tender for the renovation of the Badisches Staatstheater. As early as 2015, there were increasing indications that this limit cannot be maintained. The city councilors of what was then GfK, now FÜR Karlsruhe, followed up in autumn 2015. The city’s response at the time was that the amount given was binding and that enough was being done to control the costs. In 2016, the city councilors Kalmbach and Mossuto made two critical inquiries about the costs of the state theater and generally demanded more transparency at the state theatre. In the summer of 2017, new preliminary planning suddenly led to a jump in costs to 320 million euros. These were justified with the now fixed full costs, including theater space and equipment. Shortly thereafter, FÜR Karlsruhe asked in an inquiry about savings and potential to reduce costs. Together with Free Voters and the FDP, a push for citizen participation was introduced to the municipal council. In discussions at the time, the administration named some potential, “but it quickly vanished into thin air,” according to the parliamentary group. In January 2020, the new parliamentary group of Free Voters and FÜR Karlsruhe then again called for a cost cap, which would have officially existed in 2014, for the worst case of 320 million. The application was referred to the technical committee, but not voted on. In the course of the year, the new sum of 500 million euros was announced. This was justified with the new construction price index and the higher risk sum of 25% – but without the theater square. “A shock where you should have stopped!” explains the group manager. The parliamentary group is therefore bringing in a new question about the costs of the renovation and the possibility of a construction freeze. In the spring of 2021, she then applied for a performance audit, which was actually included.
These results became known this week. We consider the examination to be incomplete and partly incorrect and will reject this draft resolution and ask the mayor to submit a voteable document again at a later date. City and state seem to want to create facts and present the municipal council with a template for “keep it up”. We cannot agree with this and this time we are not alone in this opinion.
