“The city of Linz wants to create planning security for the clubs. That’s why we have put together another support package for the next three years,” says SP Mayor Klaus Luger, who works with finance officer Tina Blöchl, social officer Karin Hörzing (both SP) and VP culture officer Doris Lang-Mayerhofer presented the details. According to the funding catalogue, which is to be decided by the municipal council on March 17, exactly 10.7 million euros are to be distributed to 88 clubs by 2024.
“The amount has remained the same as in previous periods,” says Luger. An increase of ten percent was planned in the budget? “That’s true, but we’ve given ourselves some breathing room by eliminating the uncontrolled growth in funding – meaning clubs are supported directly by the departments responsible for them. That’s why there are still 300,000 euros in the pot that we can distribute to new clubs if necessary,” says Luger .
The largest share, namely 42 percent (1.5 million euros per year) goes to the social sector, where 35 clubs are supported. The focus here is on families, senior citizens, young people and people in challenging life situations. The Autonomous Women’s Center or Bily (association for youth, families and sex counseling) are also supported. 31 percent, which corresponds to 3.3 million euros in three years, goes to 22 cultural associations and initiatives. The Phoenix Theater received the highest amount of funding, at EUR 460,000. The theater in the city center and the Schlot cultural association are new to the grants.
Interesting: Sport accounts for only 4.1 percent of funding. “Because the three-year funding only supports the umbrella organizations with 144,000 euros each, the clubs are included in the budget,” explains Blöchl, who has earmarked 290,000 euros for the zoo (which does not fall under any specific department).
And the City-Ring only gets 75,000 euros – instead of the previous 150,000 euros. “That’s only formally less, because the second 75,000 euros flowed into the budget of City Management GmbH,” explains Luger.
Source: Nachrichten
