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Budget crisis in Upper Austria: Politics are facing a major upheaval!
Upper Austria presents the fifth crisis budget: increasing debt, budget criticism and lack of future investments are the focus.
Budget crisis in Upper Austria: Politics are facing a major upheaval!
Upper Austria faces a huge financial upheaval - Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP) described the budget in 2025 as the "fifth crisis budget in a row". The challenges are enormous: "Corona, the war in the immediate vicinity, climate changes and rising living costs" have a massive impact on the financial planning of the federal state. The planned budget has expenditure of 9.4 billion euros and income of only 9.15 billion euros, which leads to a negative balance of 253 million euros. In response to this, a loan lock was imposed from ten percent to the 500 million euros of discretion. Around 50 million euros are available, but only under certain conditions, such as news.at reported.
Political reactions and resistance
Resistance is already forming against the budget. SPÖ, Greens, NEOS and MFG have announced that it will reject the budget in its presented form. The SPÖ criticizes the "ideal non -transparent state budget without future investments" and raises demands for urgently needed investments, especially in affordable living and school moderizations. In the meantime, Kurt Haimbuchner (FPÖ) emphasizes the need for moderate debts to invest in the future. Nevertheless, the country's total debt remains strapped to over 1.4 billion euros and ensures uncertainty about future financial scope, such as orf.at determined.
The distribution of the funds shows that the health budget is the largest chunk with 1.68 billion euros, followed by 779 million euros for social affairs and 417.7 million for childcare. The expansion of public transport and road construction should also be supported with significant amounts. Despite the high expenses, the future of the country is offset by some hurdles, since a number of projects are under the pressure of the austerity measures. This raises the question of whether and how Upper Austria can master its financial challenges, while the political opposition is already urging a need for reform and demanding a more courageous policy.