Business plan & annual financial statements
According to the Hessian Municipal Code (HGO), local authority-owned companies such as Stadtwerke Rodgau must publish their business plan and annual financial statements on their website. This primarily serves the purpose of transparency and informing the public.
Reasons for publication
Transparency and accountability
- The publication enables citizens to understand the financial planning and actual budget management of their municipality
- This creates trust and promotes democratic control
Access to information
- Everyone has the right to know how public money is spent
- The homepage offers easy and low-threshold access to these important documents
Participation and control
- By viewing the financial data, interested parties can become better informed and, if necessary, participate in discussions about municipal projects and expenditure or scrutinise them critically
Compliance with legal requirements
- The HGO explicitly stipulates this publication obligation in order to ensure standardised and transparent financial reporting in the Hessian municipalities
In short, publication on the homepage is a central element for an open and citizen-centred administration in Hesse.
Business plan
The business plan of Stadtwerke Rodgau is the central document that presents the planned income and expenditure as well as the investments and financing of the municipal company for a specific financial year.
Put simply, it is comparable to a budget plan, but tailored specifically to the needs and tasks of a municipal utility.
Important points of the business plan
Planning and control
- It sets out how the municipal utility will organise its tasks financially in the coming year and what goals it intends to pursue
Investments
- It contains detailed plans for major expenditure, such as the construction of new pipelines, the modernisation of plants or the expansion of renewable energies
Financing
- It shows how these investments are to be financed
Accountability and control
- It serves as a basis for monitoring by the political bodies of the municipality (e.g. the operating commission or the municipal council) and creates transparency regarding financial activities
To summarise, the business plan is the financial navigation system of a municipal utility that sets the direction for the coming financial year and lays the foundation for an efficient and future-oriented supply of services to citizens.
Link to and download of the 2025 business plan
Annual financial statements
The annual financial statements of Stadtwerke are the financial balance sheet and performance report at the end of a financial year. It shows how successful Stadtwerke was in the past year and what its net assets, financial position and results of operations were like.
Key points of the annual financial statements
Balance sheet
- A snapshot of the assets (what the municipal utility owns), liabilities (what the municipal utility owes) and equity on a specific reporting date
Profit and loss account (P&L)
- Shows the income (revenue) and expenses (expenditure) over the entire financial year and determines whether a profit or loss was generated
Appendix
- Contains additional explanations and information on balance sheet and income statement items that are important for a complete understanding of the financial position
Management report (often part of the annual report)
- Describes the economic situation of Stadtwerke, important events in the financial year, risks and opportunities as well as future prospects
Important functions of the annual financial statements
Accountability
- Stadtwerke accounts for the use of the funds entrusted to it and shows how it has fulfilled its tasks
Success assessment
- It provides information on whether Stadtwerke has worked economically and achieved its goals
Basis for future planning
- The results of the annual financial statements serve as the basis for preparing the business plan for the coming years
Compliance with legal requirements
- It must be prepared and often audited in accordance with certain legal regulations (e.g. German Commercial Code, municipal regulations)
To summarise, the annual financial statements are the financial review of a municipal utility, which transparently shows what happened in the past financial year and how it is doing financially.
Link to and download of the 2023 annual financial statements
Annual financial statements 2023