Special Session in Vienna: Extraordinary State Parliament for Budget Adjustment Scheduled

It is necessary so that planned regulations can come into effect as intended at the beginning of 2026. However, the tense situation regarding the city budget is also being discussed today, Wednesday, in the municipal council.

Vienna must save: First measures already announced

The Vienna savings package has already caused some commotion recently. Cuts in minimum security, higher prices for public transport tickets, the increase of the local tax, the postponement of construction projects, or the freezing of district budgets have already been announced.

Finance City Councillor Barbara Novak (SPÖ) has also informed about the increase in the housing subsidy contribution. This aims to generate an additional 190 million euros. The contribution currently amounts to 0.5 percent of the assessment base for both employers and employees, and it will increase to 0.75 percent each. The revenues will be earmarked for housing, social services, kindergartens, and schools. The adjustment will be decided in the state parliament tomorrow. This is to ensure that the measure becomes effective in the budget next year in a timely manner. Since a legal change is necessary for this, the state parliament must be involved.

This also applies to the already announced amendment to the Vienna Academy Promotion Act. Savings are also planned for the party academies. With the amendment to be decided tomorrow, funds for international educational work will be cut.

The approval of the budget itself, however, is the responsibility of the municipal council. The figures for 2026 will be decided there in December. Although the budget debate and decision were supposed to take place in November, the budget marathon has been postponed due to the current situation.

Current hour on cuts

Regardless, the topic was again discussed in today's municipal council meeting. The Greens have requested a current hour on what they see as the impending "clear-cut in the social sector." Green leader Judith Pühringer expressed her anger in this, among other things, over the cuts in the family allowance in minimum security.

This mainly affects children and single parents, she warned. Savings in permanent benefits would also have impacts on people with disabilities, the elderly, or vulnerable individuals. Many people with subsidiary protection would also no longer be able to pay their rent, which would often affect children as well. "You are driving in brutally," she accused the red-pink city government.

The government factions countered. The statements of the Greens were false, just as their warning about the abolition of free kindergarten was not accurate, said NEOS councilor Arabel Bernecker-Thiel. "The budget situation in Vienna is dramatic," she did not conceal. It is known that there are no simple solutions and compromises must be found. However, the necessary cuts should be kept as minimal as possible.

SPÖ representative Andrea Mautz stated that Vienna is facing the greatest need for savings in the history of the Second Republic. Responsible for this are the high inflation and the "legacy of the turquoise-green federal government." Savings are being made in a socially just manner, namely two-thirds on the expenditure side, Mautz assured. The safety net of minimum security should be put on "stable legs." However, privatizations are not planned.

ÖVP and FPÖ criticized mainly the consequences of the increase in housing subsidy contributions. Here, there is up to 200 euros net less salary annually, calculated FPÖ leader Dominik Nepp and also ÖVP club chairman Harald Zierfuß. Nepp spoke of a "huge wage theft." The economy would also be burdened by this. At the same time, "hundreds of asylum millions" would be spent. The FPÖ politician doubted that the new revenues would actually be used for the creation of housing.

Zierfuß complained about what he considered to be still too generous social support for larger families. Those who do nothing are rewarded, he was annoyed. At the same time, the city does not save on itself.

District leaders speak out on austerity measures in Vienna

In the afternoon, the district funds were also a topic, which will not be increased next year but will remain at the level of 2025. In this debate, two district leaders also exercised their right to speak in the municipal council - which is rather rare. City chief Markus Figl, who was recently elected chairman of the Vienna ÖVP, reported that there had been no discussion about the budget cuts. "There was no dialogue beforehand." They were presented with a fait accompli.

"Of course," the districts would also see the need to save. However, they are the first place citizens turn to to express concerns. If cuts are made, the tasks can no longer be fulfilled as before, warned Figl. The leader from the seventh district, Markus Reiter, agreed. The debate is not just about numbers on paper, but for example about child-friendly school routes or cool places.

In the districts, city politics become visible, Reiter pointed out. They are not talking about nice-to-have projects, but about the foundations of quality of life in Vienna. "Those who cut do not save, they endanger already achieved effects," Reiter stated.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.