Association of cities congratulates Johannes Pressl on his new position as head of the association of municipalities

2024-02-26 14:38:06

The first common demand is the municipal financial package

Vienna (OTS) – The Austrian Association of Municipalities elected Johannes Pressl as its new president today, Monday, February 26th.

Association of Cities President Michael Ludwig said: “Cities and municipalities have common interests in many ways, such as a new municipal financial package for cities and municipalities. The association of cities and the association of municipalities have already worked together very well in the past and we will continue to do so in the future. Congratulations on the election to Johannes Pressl.”

Association of Cities General Secretary Thomas Weninger continues: “I look forward to a good exchange with Johannes Pressl and wish him all the best in his work.”

On behalf of the Austrian Association of Cities, President of the Association of Cities Michael Ludwig and Secretary General of the Association of Cities Thomas Weninger would also like to thank his predecessor Alfred Riedl for the long-standing and good cooperation in the interests of the municipalities.

The first common demand is a large-scale municipal financial package

The Austrian Association of Cities and the Austrian Association of Municipalities have recently called for a package of measures for the economy and a billion municipalities in the media. The financial situation of cities and municipalities is currently very tense. The KDZ Center for Administrative Research has been warning for a long time that by 2024 every second municipality in Austria could be a leaving municipality. The financial directors of the member cities of the Austrian Association of Cities recently reiterated the call for a municipal financial package for cities and municipalities at their meeting; Because according to WIFO, spending on education, care and health is growing the fastest; These needs were also recognized in the FAG negotiated at the end of 2023, but climate protection was left out. But it is precisely in this area that cities need more financial resources, according to the finance directors.

Cities Association General Secretary Thomas Weninger emphasizes: “The Cities Association and the Association of Municipalities will fight for a large-scale municipal finance package for cities and municipalities in an initial collaboration under the new Municipal Association boss Johannes Pressl. Money is needed for the urgently needed measures in mobility and the energy transition, but also for the construction industry, which is currently in a deep crisis.”

According to media reports, the federal government has announced measures for the construction industry; According to Weninger, one focus could be increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and the renovation rate. The second goal must be to provide additional funds for the mobility transition.

“Public transport plays an essential role in climate protection. According to the federal mobility plan, motor vehicle traffic must be completely electrified by 2040 and only 42 percent of all journeys can be made by car. Cities therefore need long-term, stable and sufficient financial resources to achieve the green transition (expanding supply, creating infrastructure and decarbonizing fleets). “Let’s give the cities the money they deserve, because our cities are constantly setting up good projects, but without a financial basis they cannot be financed,” said Weninger. Finally, Weninger states that, according to the Federal Audit Office, fines of over 9 billion euros will be due if the climate targets are not achieved.

About the Austrian Association of Cities

The Austrian Association of Cities is the constitutionally anchored interest group and a strong voice for cities and larger municipalities in Austria. There are currently 258 member communities. 6.4 million people live in cities and their surrounding areas in Austria. 71 percent of jobs are also in cities. More information at www.staedtebund.gv.at (Ending)