The first meetings of the new community councils after the inauguration took place in Braunau and Mattighofen on Tuesday evening. The budget for the coming year was on the agenda in both cities.
In Mattighofen it is the first budget for which the new VP Mayor Daniel Lang is not responsible for the SPÖ. “We had a very detailed city council meeting that lasted four hours,” says Lang. The draft was recommended unanimously by the city council and adopted unanimously by the local council on Tuesday without any requests to speak. The budget year looks as follows: In the budget estimate, disbursements of 26.6 million euros are set against payments of around 23.2 million euros. This results in a minus amount of around 3.4 million euros, which are offset by reserves. Investments, i.e. infrastructure, machines, buildings, vehicles, equipment have a total volume of 5.8 million euros in expenditure, the compulsory expenditures such as social welfare association, hospitals and state levy come to 5.5 million euros. In terms of income, the municipal tax of six million euros is significant. Priorities were set up until 2026: the top priority is the maintenance of the lifting platform for the Mattighofen fire brigade, followed by the combined construction project for the Red Cross and the renovation or new construction of the outdoor swimming pool building.
In Braunau, VP finance committee chairman Josef Knauseder is “cautiously optimistic” when looking at the 2022 budget. Braunau creates the balance again: Income of around 53.4 million euros contrasts with expenditure of around 53.2 million euros. That means a surplus of 198,300 euros for the reserves. However, this is only possible because investments are reduced, the reserves melted down and the expenditures for investments in road construction, sewage and water supply are financed exclusively through loans. In other words: The debt level will increase by around four million euros to 37.3 million. “In terms of debt servicing, we are benefiting from the current historic phase of low interest rates, which will result in significant relief,” said Knauseder in his budget speech. Other reasons for the increase in liquid funds include the increase in the earnings share by 4.7 percent, the reduction in the SHV surcharge and the proceeds from the sale of the city nursery. Around 300,000 euros more municipal tax than in 2021 – around 11.9 million euros – are planned. “We can feel that the economy is recovering. The Braunau district is the economically most dynamic, but also the most underrated district in Austria,” said Knauseder.
“Pulling together”
All parties in the local council signaled unity and the willingness to work together: “The budget is not too euphoric, but we all have to pull together,” said FP councilor Gerhard Haberfellner. SP Deputy Mayor Wolfgang Grabner-Sittenthaler said the same thing, but he also emphasized: “It’s about measures and not just bare figures, we should definitely be more innovative, especially with regard to climate protection, but try to build up our reserves again . ” Manfred Hackl of the Greens did not want to talk about a surplus in view of the increased debt level. “We’re not that optimistic, especially in the medium term,” he said. The SHV surcharge will certainly rise again. VP parliamentary group chairwoman Ramona Eberl praised: “This budget underlines what we are capable of together despite all the turbulence.” The budget was finally approved unanimously. The medium-term financial and priority ranking in Braunau is as follows: The top priority is the renovation of the dairy wing in Ranshofen Castle, the procurement of a fire engine for the Ranshofen fire brigade, the rehabilitation of local roads, the procurement of a fire truck for the Braunau fire brigade, a new winter service vehicle for the building yard and the renovation of the polytechnic school.
Source: Nachrichten
