Grüne on finance and taxes

The Greens want to use the states' new borrowing leeway to set up an "RLP-Zukunftsfonds" (Rhineland-Palatinate future fund). It would mainly help companies shift to climate-neutral production. In the long run, the debt brake should be reformed so that borrowing is allowed up to the level of public investment.

The Greens want a new fund for Rhineland-Palatinate. A fund is a pot of money for one purpose. The state may take on new debt for it. The money should help companies become climate-friendly. The Greens also want to change the rules on state debt.

The fund would support companies with low-interest loans, guarantees or repayment grants. Money would go to climate-neutral technology, new production methods, energy efficiency, the circular economy and grids. The party also wants to check which other investments could be financed through borrowing in the federal and state budgets, such as grid expansion by municipal utilities. This is meant to close gaps left by the federal special fund and the state's RLP-Plan. The platform stands by a fundamental reform of the debt brake.

The Greens want to push at state and federal level for what they see as a fairer tax system, with large fortunes and capital gains contributing more. At the same time, the state tax administration should get more staff for company audits to uncover tax evasion and undeclared work.

The Greens want to share the tax burden differently. Very rich people should pay more. Today many people pay more tax on wages than on investment gains. The state should also hire more tax auditors. They should find tax fraud in companies.

The platform criticizes that income from work is often taxed more heavily than high capital gains and wants to change this. The party backs federal, EU and international initiatives that close tax loopholes and act against tax havens. In the state, field staff in the tax administration should grow, especially in company audits. The goal is enough capacity to effectively detect tax offenses and undeclared work at all businesses. The party wants to promote the profession and make the state's finance college more attractive.

The Greens want to strengthen municipal finances. The federal government should pay for the tasks it assigns to municipalities and help with their old debts. In the state, the municipal revenue-sharing system is to be reviewed, and climate protection is to become a mandatory municipal task.

Many towns and villages are short of money. The Greens say the federal government should pay for the tasks it sets. It should also help with old debts. The state will check whether towns get enough money. Climate protection should become a duty for towns.

The platform names social spending as the main burden on local budgets and sees the federal government as responsible. On old debts, the federal level should do more now that the state has taken over half of the municipalities' short-term cash loans. In the 2026 evaluation of the Kommunaler Finanzausgleich (municipal revenue sharing), the Greens want to check whether it covers actual needs and otherwise revise it together with the municipalities. VAT shares should be redistributed through a new "joint task" so that municipalities can invest long-term in climate protection, climate adaptation, social infrastructure and town centers. Money from the federal special fund should go to local climate protection and social infrastructure.