Image: City of Linz/shutterstock
There are still holidays, but the next school year is just around the corner. And with it the time when many families are confronted with high expenses for their school children.
As if the start of the school year wasn’t already a burden enough for families on the expenditure side, inflation, increased energy prices, interest rates and the cost of living weigh on the budget. As part of the city’s anti-inflation package, which was decided by the city senate in May of this year, the school start package is intended to help all those families who are existentially burdened by the increased costs, as Mayor Klaus Luger (SP) put it.
A total of 560,000 euros are available in this additional funding pot, said Deputy Mayor Tina Blöchl (SP), who is responsible for finance. Linz pre-school and school children up to the 5th grade receive support in the form of a Linz City Ring voucher worth 100 euros.
Applications possible from September 4th
An upper limit for household income will ensure the social accuracy of the measure. Graduated according to the number of children, this may amount to a maximum of 60,000 euros per year. This would support low- and middle-income families. Families who want to take advantage of this support from the City of Linz can submit the application online on the City of Linz website from September 4th. If an online application is not possible, the citizens’ service in the New Town Hall will provide support, said Municipal Director Ulrike Huemer.
The person who receives family allowance for the child can submit the application. The application period ends on October 31 of this year.
package long overdue
The Linz Freedom Party described the school start package as long overdue. They agreed to the package, but hoped for more. The FP would have liked an additional bonus of 50 euros for Austrian families and “parents who can demonstrate good knowledge of German”, a higher income limit to entitle them to receive support and an extension to pupils up to the 8th grade. “Inflation has long since reached the middle class,” said FP parliamentary group leader Wolfgang Grabmayr.
Criticism of voucher solution
For the Linz People’s Party, only retail in the city center benefits from the “important” school starter package. The relief in the form of 100-euro city vouchers would clearly disadvantage retailers specializing in school supplies in other parts of the city, criticized VP club chairwoman Michaela Sommer. In addition, there is no earmarking of the vouchers for school supplies. Funding should be more targeted.
Source: Nachrichten
