<p>In politics, public administration, and academia, the German term “Daseinsvorsorge” (public services) is generally understood to mean that the state ensures that citizens have access to certain goods and services that are necessary for human existence. After some conceptual clarification, this article focuses on municipal public services in Germany and shows that there is considerable controversy as to which goods and services (and in what quantity and quality) are necessary for the state to provide. Moreover, there is controversy regarding the extent to which private actors should be involved in the production and financing of public services. It turns out that the concept of Daseinsvorsorge, which at first glance seems uncontroversial, conceals a&#xa0;number of contentious issues that are the subject of an ongoing political and social negotiation process.</p>