Vienna's Debt Mountain Could Double by 2030

The financial situation of the states and municipalities is tense - something that is not expected to change soon in Vienna. This was reported by the state ÖVP on Thursday. By 2030, the debt level could rise from around 15 billion to nearly 30 billion euros, warned party leader Markus Figl. This calculation is based on figures from the recently presented forecast for 2026. The forecasts contained therein would indicate further new debt, he reported.

ÖVP Criticism of Missing Consolidation Path

The ÖVP has also included the results of the city's enterprises in these budget path details. This was done very cautiously, Figl assured media representatives. In fact, the debt level could also be significantly over 30 billion euros, it is speculated. Figl spoke of a "veritable disaster". He reminded that at the start of Red-Pink in 2020, the debt was only around 10 billion.

"Vienna consistently spends more than it earns. What is missing is a real consolidation path," he criticized. Club chairman Harald Zierfuß and budget spokesman Hannes Taborsky predicted that interest rates would also rise dramatically due to the development. "By 2030, they will be higher than the costs for the city's kindergartens," said Zierfuß. Higher fees and charges would be a consequence of this, he is convinced.

Vienna Budget Forecast Shows Billion-Deficit

The budget forecast for the coming year will be decided in December. The expected deficit is stated to be 2.63 billion euros. Recently, forecasts had looked significantly gloomier. Vienna responded with a savings package. Measures such as tariff increases or cuts in social support were initiated.

Figures Not Comprehensible for SPÖ

SPÖ club chairman Josef Taucher countered - referring to the "biggest financial hole since 1945", which he believes the former black-green federal government left behind. The debt crisis must now be borne by municipalities and states throughout Austria. Inflation has not been curbed and instead "billions in tax reliefs" were decided without counter-financing. The Vienna ÖVP only wants to distract from this, with figures that "are in no way comprehensible", as Taucher noted.

The Greens, in turn, were convinced that the city government had the levers in hand to curb the growing deficit. The leadership duo Judith Pühringer and Peter Kraus recommended measures such as a vacancy or second home tax or skimming off profits from land rezoning. "That would be a question of social justice, but the SPÖ is completely absent," the two lamented in a statement.

(APA/Red)

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