Berlin – September 15, 2026 -- Steffen Krach, the Social Democratic Party's (SPD) top candidate for Berlin's upcoming Abgeordnetenhaus election, has proposed increasing annual funding for the Berlin city cleaning utility BSR (Berliner Stadtreinigungsbetriebe) by €20 million to €30 million.
Krach says a €45 billion city budget can absorb the increase
Krach told rbb that a growing city requires greater investment in sanitation infrastructure and that the additional sum is feasible within Berlin's overall €45 billion budget.
Candidate ties revenue growth to new business formation and job creation
To fund the initiative without new taxes, Krach said Berlin needs new companies and more jobs, arguing that higher employment would simultaneously reduce fiscal pressure on the city budget.
SPD candidate defends free school meals for higher earners
Krach reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining free school lunches regardless of household income, stating that redistribution should occur through the tax office rather than by charging seven-year-olds for meals. He signaled openness to discussing wealth and inheritance taxes as alternative revenue tools.
Krach rejects Left Party's plan to expropriate large property firms
Krach again dismissed proposals from Die Linke to socialize major real estate corporations, calling it the wrong approach given the potential cost of up to €38 billion and the lengthy timeline involved. He argued Berlin's housing shortage requires immediate action rather than a prolonged legal and financial process.
Candidate sets annual target of 20,000 new housing units
Krach outlined a plan to build 20,000 apartments per year, split evenly between the city's state-owned housing companies (10,000 units) and private developers plus cooperatives (10,000 units). Similar targets have existed in Berlin for years but have consistently fallen short of goals.
Krach identified Elisabeth-Aue, Tegel, and areas outside Tempelhofer Feld in Neukölln and Kreuzberg as potential sites for new residential development.