Budget Accompanying Act: Federal Council Gives Green Light

This means that the abolition of the climate bonus, the more difficult access to the corridor pension, the freezing of family allowance and other family benefits for two years, as well as numerous other measures, have cleared the last parliamentary hurdle, reported the parliamentary correspondence.

The biggest chunk of the Budget Accompanying Act is the end of the climate bonus. For corridor pensions, a higher starting age is coming. Not only the valorization of family benefits is suspended, but also of health and retraining benefits until 2028. Additionally, there will be an increase in the service fee for the e-card, an increase in the initial tax rate for donations to private foundations, and a widespread abolition of additional earning opportunities for the unemployed.

Some Reliefs, Numerous Cuts

Also fixed are, among other things, relief measures for municipalities, the increase of the commuter euro, and easier access to the craftsman bonus. Other measures include the elimination of the education bonus for social assistance recipients during longer training measures, the non-valorization of party funding in the coming year, cuts to the forest fund, a reduction in special sports funding, cuts to various environmental subsidies, and savings at ORF and "Wiener Zeitung".

Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) saw the budget consolidation as securing Austria's strengths. It creates room for important investments, he said according to parliamentary correspondence. While ÖVP and SPÖ defended the measures and highlighted their advantages, the Freedom Party criticized, among other things, cuts in agriculture and pensions. The Greens saw wrong priorities and a setback in climate protection.

(APA/Red)

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