According to Hauptgeschäftsführer Ruge, approximately 2.6 million employees in municipalities could incur an additional cost of €2.6 billion due to the implementation of a tax-free ‘relief premium’ of €1,000 for workers. If similar provisions are extended to civil servants, the financial impact could escalate further. Ruge emphasized the urgent need for federal compensation, given the precarious financial situation at the municipal level. This discussion follows a coalition decision to temporarily reduce the mineral oil tax by 17 cents per liter in response to rising fuel prices linked to the Iran conflict.