“We’re all pulling together”

“We know that it is a difficult time and that we have to take unpopular measures together,” said Deputy Mayor Christoph Danner (VP) after the last municipal council meeting in the OÖN conversation. The Schärdinger municipal council is still working on the budget for this year. For this, in Schärding, due to the financial difficulties – as already reported – the hardship compensation of the state is required. A situation for which the city only feels responsible to a limited extent, as Danner explains: “The financial situation is not the result of undesirable developments in the city, but the result of developments that we could not influence.” among other things, the rising costs in the energy sector, but also in the social sector. In the course of the municipal council meeting, the city politicians set further course that are necessary to fulfill the list of criteria of the state. According to Mayor Günter Streicher, concrete figures will be available by the end of March. “Until then, everything that is not absolutely necessary from a financial point of view will be checked,” says Streicher.

Elementary school is being renovated

The cuts mentioned affect almost all areas. “Regardless of personal sensitivities, we have to make cuts everywhere,” confirms FP Deputy Mayor Stefan Schneebauer. “We are all pulling together. Times are not getting any easier, we all notice that.” Large projects, such as the renovation of the old Inn bridge or the district sports hall, must therefore currently take a back seat, says Schneebauer.

“In general, that doesn’t mean that nothing is being funded anymore,” notes Deputy Mayor Danner. “We have to learn to deal with the negative change and reduce certain subsidies.” On the other hand, the renovation of the anniversary elementary school, which should ideally start this year, has already been secured. Another major project that the municipal council is currently working on is the state garden show, which will take place in Schärding from April to October 2025. While ÖVP, SPÖ and FPÖ also show unity here, the citizens’ list in the person of Richard Armstrong, the municipal councilor, criticizes the focus in Grüntal and in the Orangery Park. “The last time this area was completely submerged was in 2013 during the terrible flood. The risk of this happening during the years of preparation or during the event is great and should not be underestimated,” says Armstark. He proposes a sustainable greening of the entire city, with a focus on the Upper and Lower Town Square.

Focus on sustainability

For Mayor Streicher, this is not a realistic suggestion: “The state horticultural show needs a large outdoor area like the Grüntal. All tenders have been aligned accordingly.” The winner of the architectural competition was chosen in January. “The plans are largely in place,” says Streicher. The mayor sees the probability of a flood on the scale of the disaster in 2013 as very low. “It wasn’t called a flood of the century for nothing,” says Streicher. In general, the State Garden Show will try to focus more on sustainable and environmentally friendly projects.