Government announces agreement at Budget – Diepresse.com

The government has « essentially » agreed on the double budget for the years 2025 and 2026. State Secretary Alexander Pröll (ÖVP) announced on Thursday afternoon in a press conference. SPÖ government coordinator Michaela Schmidt (SPÖ) added: « We set up the 6.4 billion. » However, details remain open until the budget speech next Tuesday.

The two agreed with Neos Secretary of State Josef Schellhorn that the budget creation was a difficult project in view of the starting point, but which was handled with confidence. The legacy was « incredibly heavy », explained Schellhorn. Schmidt recalled that the extent of the deficit could not yet be foreseen even when the government agreed.

Pröll called four thrusts that had been kept in view in the budget preparation, the « largest package of the past decades ». On the one hand, it deals with « performance instead of overgrowth », then a « fair renovation », attempt to invest in the future of the country as well as reforms in structure and administration.

It was emphasized by Pröll that this year the public administration contributed to the renovation of the budget with 1.1 billion and 1.3 billion in the coming year. It remained unclear whether the patched increase over inflation could be laced with the civil servants. Pröll referred to the words of Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) from Wednesday, who had left all the options open. As far as the staff stand was concerned, it was emphasized that there should no longer be places.

Belief in administrative reform

Schellhorn was confident that the administrative reform would also continue. The chairman of the Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) and the municipal association boss Johannes Pressl (ÖVP) confirmed reform will have confirmed: « There was a lot of confidence. » Immediately after the budget, one has to tackle the « crying of the funding jungle »: « Here we have to hit with a machete. »

It was essential for Schmidt that the steps on the revenue -side steps were also taken: « Our concern was that everyone did a fair share, » the State Secretary referred to the special tax for energy companies and bank tax.

Generous past

Pröll confessed that in the past one was probably too generous in some things and cited as an examples of climatic bonus and educational leave. The former measure alone brings two billion. The global numbers remain unchanged. This year the savings volume should be 6.4 billion euros. Another 8.7 billion will be added in the coming year. (APA)