The financial situation of the municipality remains tense. Since this year, Eferding has been applying the criteria that apply to hardship compensation municipalities in order to gain financial leeway for investments. Among other things, club funding was cut from 220,000 to 105,000 euros. Citizens have also criticized the limited opening hours of the outdoor pool, which are intended to reduce personnel costs. If at least 24 degrees is forecast for the next day the day before, the pool will be opened, otherwise it will remain closed. Citizens can find up-to-date information on the website.
“The alternative of closing the outdoor pool is unthinkable for me. In Eferding there are many families in apartment buildings without a pool on their doorstep who use the outdoor pool,” says Mayor Christian Penn (SP). However, the city must generate a contribution margin of 50 percent. This year, however, this is not possible because major technical investments in the outdoor pool were again necessary.
Eferding covers departures alone
Penn emphasizes once again that Eferding, as the district capital, provides important infrastructure from which the entire region benefits. “But Eferding alone is paying for the loss.” In addition to the outdoor pool, the Bräuhaus cultural center and the sports facilities, such as the sports hall, which is in dire need of renovation, are also used by residents, groups and clubs from the surrounding communities.
A current disappointment is that Hinzenbach is pulling out of the contract for the joint youth center in the former post office building in Eferding at the end of the year. “We will try to maintain the youth center together with Fraham. This is another example of infrastructure where some pay and others don’t. But we will not ask whether the young people from Hinzenbach, Pupping, Fraham or Eferding come to the youth center,” says Penn.
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Source: Nachrichten
