An unused red light container for sex work, a 1.3 kilometer long fence costing almost 24 million euros, a museum for wallpaper and a bicycle garage with a calculated cost of more than 16,000 euros per parking space: In the new "Black Book 2026/27", the Taxpayers' Association is again collecting 100 cases in which it sees careless handling of tax money. Some examples:
“Magnificent renovation” of Bellevue Palace
In the capital, the taxpayers' association is particularly concerned about the high costs of renovating Bellevue Palace. “Money doesn't play a role, the calculation adds up to 860 million euros across four partial construction measures and including a risk buffer made up of 250 risk positions,” complains the association. The fence around the site is particularly eye-catching: the approximately 1,300 meter long facility, including video surveillance, is expected to cost almost 24 million euros.
The presidential office also has to observe the budget principles of thrift and efficiency, according to the report, which was presented in Berlin. The Federal President's Office referred to its homepage, which provides information about costs.
Bicycle garage for government employees only
The Saxon state government has had a bicycle garage with 80 parking spaces built in Dresden for around 1.3 million euros. Only state employees can use them. According to the association, a parking space costs more than 16,000 euros.
The Saxon Ministry of Finance justified the costs with the special security requirements. The bicycle garage is located directly next to the State Chancellery and was built in solid construction. A three-sided reinforced concrete structure serves as impact protection for trucks and other vehicles. This protective measure was implemented on the recommendation of the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), it said.
The taxpayers' association criticized that well-intentioned promotion of cycling does not justify luxury solutions for a few.
Red light container
The Rhineland-Palatinate city of Trier was featured in the current “Black Book” with a container for sex workers. According to the taxpayers' association, it was not used once for more than two years. Anyone who wanted to enter had to get a key from the city first. A total of almost 15,000 euros in costs were incurred.
When asked, the city said the city council had asked the administration to create safe conditions for sex workers in street prostitution. The administration then set up the container with a meeting room and separate toilet in April 2023. According to the city, the rental costs were around 5,600 euros per year.
According to the city, there was no demand. "The administration assumes that this has to do with the fundamental trend away from street prostitution towards offering sexual services on the digital network as well as in hotels and private apartments." The city council then decided to dismantle the container at the end of 2025.
Millions for wallpaper
Around 35 million euros for a wallpaper museum in Hesse: The lobby association also criticizes the construction of a new museum in Kassel. In the future, around 23,000 exhibits from several centuries will be shown there.
The taxpayers' association criticizes the fact that costs have increased and the opening has been delayed. In addition, there is still no forecast as to how many visitors will come and how much revenue could be. However, the state points out that it committed itself years ago to making the collection publicly accessible.
Upon request, there were initially no statements from the Hessen Kassel Heritage institution and the Hessen State Office for Construction and Real Estate (LBIH) - the first organization referred to the second.
“Poisoned Gifts”
The list “Public Waste 2026/27” is the 54th edition of the “Black Book”. This time the association is placing particular focus on “poisoned gifts”. He looked at government funding programs. It is criticized that funding and deadlines are sometimes the deciding factor when it comes to spending, rather than need and benefit. Sometimes funds are spent because they would otherwise expire.
“The federal and state governments must limit their funding programs, coordinate them better, check them regularly and cancel them if they are not effective,” demanded association president Reiner Holznagel. The lobby association also criticizes complex procedures, possible follow-up costs for municipalities and a lack of transparency.
Criticism of the Black Book
The Taxpayers' Association is a private association that politically advocates, among other things, the efficient use of tax money and solid state finances, i.e. it questions the federal government's new debt and spending. He lobbies for this in the Bundestag and with highly publicized campaigns. The Taxpayers' Association emphasizes that it is politically neutral.
But the so-called Black Book is controversial. One criticism is that it only lists spectacular individual cases, but often ignores their context and does not paint a representative overall picture of tax waste. Authorities and municipalities named therein often defend themselves against the allegations and justify their financial decisions.
