Pankow faces 6.3 million euro deficit due to school renovation costs

The Pankow district in Berlin faces a significant financial deficit following a budget law violation related to school renovations. While students at the Weißen See primary school have finally returned to their renovated building after eight years, the political and financial fallout continues.

According to a joint statement by the SPD and Green Party factions, the district must cover additional costs totaling approximately 6.3 million euros. This will result in deductions of roughly 2.1 million euros from Pankow’s annual investment allocations for the years 2029, 2030, and 2031. These funds were originally intended for schools, youth clubs, playgrounds, and sports facilities.

The financial penalty stems from the authorization of construction and planning services without the required approval from the Senate, which constitutes a violation of Berlin’s budget law. The SPD and Green factions have identified CDU District Councilor Jörn Pasternack as the responsible official. This loss is expected to delay the consolidation of Pankow’s existing 24 million euro budget deficit by approximately two years.