# Bund der Steuerzahler reports on German public spending

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bund-der-steuerzahler-reports-on-german-public-spending
> Updated: 2026-10-09T05:39:09.000Z. Sources: 21. Developments: 2.

The Bund der Steuerzahler (Taxpayers Association) released its 2026/27 “Schwarzbuch” (Black Book), documenting 100 instances of alleged public fund mismanagement and wasteful spending across Germany.

Initial reports highlighted massive cost escalations in major infrastructure and prestige projects, such as the planned government terminal at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, where costs were projected to rise from 344 million euros to 2.5 billion euros. Other criticized expenditures included high-cost construction in Munich and Kassel, questionable cultural installations, and inefficient resource allocation like unused teacher laptops.

Subsequent details from the report identified specific infrastructure discrepancies, such as a wooden bridge costing 9.2 million euros and a 370-meter cycle path priced at one million euros. In Baden-Württemberg, the Hermann-Hesse-Bahn project saw costs escalate from 49 million to approximately 240 million euros, including 85 million euros spent on bat protection measures. The association also noted significant cost variations in railway platform construction. While Deutsche Bahn cited complex safety standards for higher costs, the Federal Ministry of Transport acknowledged gaps in its ability to systematically monitor such cost comparisons.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-09: Bund der Steuerzahler criticizes wasteful public projects in Germany

The Bund der Steuerzahter's 2026/2027 Black Book exposes significant public spending discrepancies in Germany, including massive cost increases for the Hermann-Hesse-Bahn and railway infrastructure.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bund-der-steuerzahler-criticizes-wasteful-public-projects-in-germany

### 2026-09-30: Bund der Steuerzahler reports widespread tax waste in 2026 Schwarzbuch

The Bund der Steuerzahler released its 2026/27 “Schwarzbuch,” citing 100 cases of alleged tax waste in Germany, including a government airport terminal at BER costing up to 2.5 billion euros.

19 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/steuerzahlerbund-criticizes-millions-in-german-subsidy-waste

---
Cite as: Bund der Steuerzahler reports on German public spending. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bund-der-steuerzahler-reports-on-german-public-spending