Warning Greens: Lockal amounts endanger climate promotion in communities!

Warning Greens: Lockal amounts endanger climate promotion in communities!

Österreich - On June 3, 2025, Elisabeth Götze, the spokeswoman for the Greens for municipalities and cities, expressed sharp criticism of the planned municipal investment law. It accuses the government of carrying out the distribution of funds to municipalities according to the principle of the "watering can", which is precisely supported by the necessary support of the necessary measures. Instead, Götze calls for a differentiated approach that meets the specific needs of the individual communities. This criticism is no coincidence, since the municipal investment law 2023 and 2025 provides a total of 750 million euros for energy efficiency measures, the expansion of renewable energies and adjustments to the challenges of climate change.

As part of the municipal investment law (KIG) 2023, 500 million euros have already been released for climate protection measures, including almost 70 million for building renovations and 51 million for the conversion of street lighting. Götze emphasizes that over 100 million euros were invested in photovoltaic systems and storage. In their opinion, the municipal investment packages of recent years have contributed significantly to the transformation of the municipalities and to reduce the running costs.

changes in the award

The changes to the local investment laws that were decided for the years 2020, 2023 and 2025 stipulate that purpose grants are converted into general financial assignments. This means that municipalities can now access funds easier and without the obligation to co -finance. The funds are transferred to the municipalities, which significantly reduces the administrative effort. Reporting on the use of the funds is only made to the local council, while applications and bills are eliminated to the federal government. In this way, municipalities will be able to independently decide on investments what should lead to the immediate support of the local infrastructure according to the [BMF] (https://www.bmf.gv.at/themen/finanz-laender-laender-gemunge-laender-gemunge-laender-gemun-laender

Part of these regulations is anchored in the Budget Gegonverungs Act 2025, which is currently available in the National Council for Parliamentary Treatment. The planned payments of the federal government within the framework of the local investment laws through 2025 to 2028. While 211 million euros are planned for 2025, 320 million euros for 2026, 290.75 million euros for 2027 and 60 million euros for 2028.

The context of the Kig

The municipal investment law of 2023 represents an answer to the challenges caused by the Covid 19 pandemic, as well as the inflation crisis and the worldwide energy crisis. In the course of financial support, almost all municipalities in Austria were able to apply for funds, with 99.8 percent of the “communityillions” made available. A total of 998.1 million euros were paid to the municipalities, which supported total investments of around 3.9 billion euros. The most common positive applications came from the federal states of Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Styria, and most funds flowed into projects with direct benefits for the population, such as the construction and renovation of day care centers and schools.

Götze warns that the intended changes to the municipal investment means could only help with structural problems with structural problems and are not future -oriented. It calls for a new distribution of tasks and an end to the state environments to secure the tax money they are entitled to.

The debate about the effectiveness of the municipal investment law continues to be intensively conducted, while the municipalities hope for sustainable and appropriate support.