Together we can do it: Katja Lindenau’s election program for the mayoral election in Schwalbach am Taunus on March 15, 2026
Introduction
On March 15, 2026, there will be two elections in Schwalbach. With your votes, you will decide who will
steer the future course as mayor of Schwalbach and who will represent our city in the city council.
I would like to become the new mayor of our city, and I am asking for your trust to do so. My election
program gives you a detailed insight into the issues we now need to tackle together, because
Schwalbach is something special.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to email me at lindenau@gruene-mtk.de. I
would be happy to take the time to talk to you before you make your voting decision.
Yours
Katja Lindenau
Mayor for Schwalbach
My goals at a glance
- Office for Urban Development, Flood and Climate Protection, Unsealing, „Green Gulli“
- Revision of statutes + development plans, municipal heating planning, district heating
- Financial controlling and profitability audits
- Development of Conti-site, Lauenburger Straße, „Am Flachsacker“
- Medium-term planning for childcare places
- Training and development initiative in the municipal administration
- Electrification of municipal vehicle fleet, municipal maintenance depot , fire department
- PV systems, car sharing, local mobility, community bus, charging stations/curbs
- Introduction of a participatory budget (up to €200,000)
Key areas – topics
- Organization of the city administration
- Urban development & Finance
- Infrastructure & Climate protection
- Family & Social cohesion
Organization of the city administration
Our city administration performs tasks for the general public, implements decisions, and provides
services. Responsibilities, distribution of tasks, and supervision are clearly regulated. Even complex
projects or processes must be implemented by the administration in a transparent, fair, goal-oriented,
efficient, and economical manner. Ultimately, lawful, transparent, and fair administrative action must be
ensured.
For a joint project to succeed, different departments, managers, and employees in each administration
must contribute their knowledge and work together in a well-structured manner. The key to this lies in
the organizational chart of the city administration. Vacant positions and unfilled specialist areas make
the work of an administration more difficult and slow down joint goals and projects. Therefore, my focus
will also be on training and further education. The most important resource for our city’s value creation
is people who are committed to working for the city, motivated to develop their skills and willing to
assume responsibility.
Administration, human resources, staffing plan:
✓ Training and continuing education initiative, personnel development, regulating succession (before
retirement).
✓ Offer dual study programs, bachelor’s and master’s theses, hire working students.
✓ Digitization of work processes, workplace design, life-stage-oriented human resources policy, familyfriendly
employer, retirement provisions for part-time employees.
✓ Digital consultation hours for citizens.
✓ Staffing plan/personnel planning (without additional positions):
- Administrative staff for the volunteer fire department + disaster control
- The building authority will be upgraded to an office for urban development
- A position for urban planning/development to enable flexible responses to change; good
urban planning = economic development - A position for building maintenance
- A position for municipal heating planning
Urban development and finance
The greatest threat to the economic development of our city is short-term thinking, uncertainty, and
inaction. Schwalbach does not lack knowledge or money, but rather speed in the implementation of
some projects. Some of this can be explained by a lack of personnel and difficult circumstances, but not
everything. Postponed investments make the city less attractive and companies less competitive.
Economic development in conjunction with targeted urban planning helps securing and improving our
quality of life and the competitiveness of businesses in the long term. For Schwalbach, this means
adapting spatial development—i.e., the planning of residential, commercial, transport, and green spaces
—to new needs. This is an ongoing and dynamic process; an urban development plan is not enough.
I stand for the positive, people-oriented development of our city. In order to make Schwalbach fit for
the future, to actively steer growth and change, and to create livable, social, and sustainable living
spaces, we need an office for urban development.
Office for Urban Development
Sustainability is not an image project, but a business model for cities and municipalities.
Important areas of responsibility are not listed in the current organizational chart of the city
administration. These include municipal heat planning, climate and environmental protection, project
coordination and building maintenance, as well as local mobility, as shown in the organizational chart of
the city administration on the website of Schwalbach.
Enhancing quality of life, sustainability, and economic performance requires close cooperation between
urban planning, the Building Department, and economic development. Urban development and urban
planning must be considered together, otherwise it will remain nothing more than a „nice plan“. Urban
planning must take into account changes in the world of work, demographic change, and climate
change from the design idea to implementation.
With effective planning and management, i.e., with an office for urban planning, our city can respond to
change processes in a targeted manner. Every new development plan must take into account urban
planning quality, planning law, and participation processes. Redensification of existing buildings and the
use of land for the common good can be achieved if existing statutes and development plans are
updated accordingly.
Areas of responsibility in an „office for urban development“:
Urban planning & public space, building administration matters & land management, real estate &
housing & building maintenance, civil engineering & project coordination, municipal maintenance
depot, green spaces & cemetery administration, local mobility & public transport &
traffic planning, environmental and climate protection, municipal heating planning, waste
management & clean urban areas, urban drainage, economic development & trade and industry.
Financial management & economic development
Our city councilors need a good overview of the budget, because they decide on large expenditures and
important projects, such as the construction of a new fire station and municipal maintenance depot. The
budget must present our city’s revenues and necessary expenditures in a clear and comprehensible
manner.
Our model could be the budget of the city of Groß-Umstadt, which has been supplemented with many
graphics in its sub-budgets. When revenues, expenditures, and trends are visualized, a budget becomes
tangible for everyone.
To prevent Schwalbach from becoming over-indebted in the long term, the level of equity capital
must be maintained. Currently, a large portion of the city’s equity capital (reserves) is to be used to finance
the construction of the new fire station and municipal maintenance depot. We urgently need a new fire
station, but we need to discuss how to finance the construction project.
The Hessian Municipal Code (HGO) expressly allows investments and investment promotion measures to
be financed in whole or in part by loans. Because credit-financed investments also create wealth,
municipal loans would be a solution.
To ensure that Schwalbach remains successful in the long term, we need a new strategy for dealing with
investments and financing larger projects. Investments must be targeted and implemented efficiently.
Minimum business requirements must be met and there must be internal controls, because municipalinvestments often get out of hand because no precise needs and profitability assessments are carried
out.
In order to balance the budget, the municipality must generate repayment and interest obligations from
its current income and payments. We need financial and project controlling. Before any investment is
made, a profitability analysis must be carried out, including an examination of financing options.
Financial control
In a comparison of municipalities in the Main-Taunus district, Schwalbach regularly ranks third, after
Eschborn and Sulzbach, in terms of financial strength per capita (after deduction of levies). According to
the budget plan of the Main-Taunus district (page 23 of October 14, 2025), Sulzbach and Schwalbach are
considered to have limited financial capacity, but compared to other municipalities in Hessen, they are
still considered to be particularly financially strong.
Action is needed in the area of finance with regard to the review of income and expenditure and the
deviations between the budgeted figures and the actual figures in the annual financial statements:
- Budget planning must also focus on the annual financial statements
- Project controlling is lacking or virtually non-existent
- A realistic draft budget for 2027
- Financing investments + investment promotion measures in part with loans (in accordance
with HGO) - Inter-municipal cooperation with Bad Soden, Sulzbach, Eschborn, etc., e.g.,
agreement on recycling for Schwalbach residents
Infrastructure and climate protection
In order to make our city fit for the future, we need to invest in the modernization of municipal
properties, energy supply, and climate protection. With the help of KfW loans, subsidies, and additional
funds from the Special Fund for Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality (SVIK), municipalities have the
financial resources to tackle these tasks.
There are a number of factors to consider in urban development. Competing demands for housing and
commercial space must be weighed up. When changing the use of sealed surfaces, we need sustainable
redesign, new mobility concepts, and green and recreational areas.
Conti site: residential and commercial space
- Preservation of the Conti-building; reuse should be the goal; EU subsidies are possible.
- Medical and health center, e.g., for practices in Schwalbach that want modern equipment and barrierfree
access. - Day care facility + day hospice (there is a need for both in the Main-Taunus district).
- Residential units above the supermarket with parking for residents.
- Commercial space for craftsmen and small businesses.
District heating – heat planning
The decarbonization of district heating systems is a key task for cities and municipalities in order to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and offer more efficient and cost-effective heating for buildings. The
Hessian Municipal Code expressly stipulates that the generation, storage, feed-in and
distribution of electricity, heat, and gas from renewable energies and their distribution to the house
connection can be a task for municipalities. This would also have been possible for district heating in
Schwalbach.
This opportunity was carelessly squandered. For many people, district heating remains
a nuisance: excessive energy costs, delayed billing, legal proceedings due to invalid pricing formulas and
compulsory connection and use. The municipal authorities expressly rejected the idea of founding a
joint venture, namely a municipal utility company. However, Süwag AG would have gone along
with this step.
Instead of ending the utility’s monopoly, a cooperation agreement was signed with Süwag
Grüne Energien C Wasser AG, which will continue to cause high prices and annoyance. Once
again, it is the district heating customers, including the city itself, who will pay the bill.
Without competition and without economic risk, the municipal authorities granted the district
heating supplier a long-term district heating supply contract for 20 years, even before forwardlooking
energy planning could be discussed. The contract with Süwag AG should not have been
signed without the climate protection concept and without consultation and a decision on municipal
heat planning.
The correct sequence would have been as follows:
- Climate protection concept
- Municipal heat planning
- Strategy for decarbonizing heat supply
The solution still lies in reorganizing the district heating supply, i.e., district heating should be
organized within the framework of municipal utilities. Politicians need transparency regarding pricing
and progress in decarbonization so that they can respond flexibly to changes. In addition, the entire
city of Schwalbach should benefit from the local energy supply.
From June 2026, citizens and municipalities will be able to participate directly in local electricity
generation. With energy sharing, end consumers will have the right to use jointly generated electricity
from renewable sources. Currently, two combined heat and power plants produce electricity, which
Süwag sells. Hereby, it sells the waste heat generated in the process to users of the district heating
supply. Schwalbach should play an active role in this energy supply and have a say in the price of
district heating. This would enable the city to reduce the electricity and heating costs of municipal
properties.
Affordable energy prices would strengthen the regional economy, and social tariffs could be offered to
low-income households. Municipal influence and municipal profit sharing in the energy transition will
determine the future of Schwalbach.
The possibility of bidirectional charging of electric cars, also from June 2026, will open up completely
new perspectives for many households in Schwalbach that are currently connected to the Schwalbach
district heating network. Bidirectional charging of electric cars in conjunction with a solar system and a
heat pump will lead many users to opt out of district heating. It was already clear before the city
signed the cooperation agreement with Süwag AG that energy sharing would be possible from June 2026. This misguided decision will cause economic damage in several respects; the contract should not
have been signed.
Finally starting active climate protection:
- Expansion of photovoltaics + battery storage + electricity balancing group for the city administration
- E-fleet for the community center administration with car sharing
- A new start for mobility & car sharing & create a citizen bus service
- Examine charging infrastructure and curb charging points for Limesstadt
- Expansion of the cycle path network, bicycle racks / covered bicycle parking areas
- Preserving, protecting, and expanding green infrastructure and urban green spaces
- Purchase of agricultural land along the Schwalbach streams for flood protection
- Water nature trail along the regional park route / Eichendorffanlage
- „Green Gulli“ campaign (municipal maintenance depot)
- Tree protection ordinance & Open space ordinance
What to do with €3.7 million from the special fund?
- €200,000 for a citizens‘ budget (list of proposals from the urban community, which will be
voted on to support or finance special projects). - €120,000 for the extension of the cycle path in the Sossenheimer Weg.
- €500,000 for the renovation of the outdoor area of the Kinderkiste, including seating
and a green playroom. - €1.8 million for the FRM4 cycle highway, minus funding commitments.
- €150,000 for public charging stations (Limesstadt, Am Brater, tennis club,
Vogelviertel).
Families and social cohesion
Schwalbach is a city with many families and is actually very family-friendly. Providing sufficient childcare
places is a mandatory task for local authorities. The municipal authorities recently decided not to expand
the number of childcare places, even though there is a shortage of around 80 places. It is time to start
building the new St. Pankratius daycare center. Working parents contribute to Schwalbach’s economic
prosperity. They are taxpayers, often employed by companies in Schwalbach. Conversely, children of
parents who do not live in Schwalbach but work here also find a daycare place in our town. It is therefore
a double win if we remain a family-friendly town with good childcare and sufficient daycare centers. In
the municipal facilities, I will advocate for the training of educational professionals.
Youth – Families – Women – Seniors
Municipal youth work is in good hands here, but politicians could be informed more regularly about the
effectiveness of municipal youth and social work. After Corona, it must respond to two new
developments: loneliness and depression. Young people have been asked to cope with a lot in recent
years, and this continues to have an impact today. Trained staff are crucial for recognizing difficult phases
in the lives of children and young people of all ages. The number of unreported cases is high, and more
spaces for young people are needed.
Our senior citizens feel at home in Schwalbach. Many are active in volunteer work, sports and leisure
clubs, or take advantage of the diverse cultural offerings. Nevertheless, there are things we can improve:
a community bus would increase the mobility of older people. There is a lack of age-appropriate, barrierfree
apartments and doctors‘ offices, as well as a day care facility or day hospice. The „Am Flachsacker“ or
„Conti“ construction sites would be suitable locations for this.
Volunteering is indispensable for the cohesion of our society. Around 27 million people in Germany are
active volunteers. They work together to support others and their own ideas, take on responsibility,
and help shape society. Anyone can get involved.
Six years ago, my election program stated that I would establish a club or volunteer coordinator in the city
administration. The proposal was accepted and passed by parliament. A part-time position is available to
relieve the burden on clubs and volunteer members. In the future, I would like to establish a car-sharing
system in Schwalbach that can be used by citizens, but also by clubs and their members.
Integration can succeed
A good integration policy creates conditions under which people of different origins can live together on
an equal footing. We must enable participation, offer equal opportunities, facilitate access to the labor
market, provide advice and training opportunities, facilitating exchange and encounters and opening
ourselves up to other cultures. There needs to be exchange between civil society aid organizations,
religious communities, schools, sports clubs, and employers. Cooperation and networking are the most
important building blocks for successful integration. The city must create the framework for this. I welcome the
fact that an advisory council for foreigners will also be elected on March 15. Little of the work done by the
Integration Commission, which meets behind closed doors, has made its way into city politics. That is now
changing, and it is long overdue.
Strengthening social cohesion
- Monitoring for childcare places and ensuring that there are enough places.
- Associations and volunteer work must continue to be promoted and equipped according to need.
- Kulturkreis GmbH should be preserved.
- A bonus system or flat rate for club memberships.
- Monitoring for youth and social work, because politicians need to learn more about the effectiveness
of the services offered. - Monitoring of senior citizen work: Are non-German senior citizens also taking advantage of the
services offered? - Strengthen the work of the advisory council for foreigners and bring its concerns to the public’s
attention. - Enable digital consultation hours for citizens.
- Digital accessibility: publicly accessible PCs in community centers or libraries.