Financial disaster at the Viennese adult education centers: Despite staff cuts for Christmas, the VHS needs five million euros, otherwise the end is near.
The Vienna Centers for Adult Education (VHS) in need: As reported, 43 employees have to leave before Christmas. But that is not enough. In addition to the 23 million euros per year, the VHS needs another five million from the city of Vienna to survive. And they get the money too. Red-pink will release the extra budget. Over the weekend, VHS Herbert Schweigen again refused a million dollar grant for 2023 to the “Krone”.
Education alderman Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) cryptically explains the step: “In the first half of 2023, we will intensify the restructuring process with the management, which started in 2018, with external support. In doing so, we look without taboos at all possible measures that can ensure the economic survival of adult education centers.”
The ÖVP is furious and speaks of long-term mismanagement and the SPÖ’s financial fiasco. “Any sustainable structural reform was nipped in the bud,” said Karl Mahrer, chairman of the ÖVP state party. And further: “Municipal councilor Wiederkehr ensures that the Viennese taxpayer has to step in again due to mismanagement. This is unacceptable.”
The VHS belong to an association close to the SPÖ (74.9 percent) and the city of Vienna (25.1 percent). Last year, the Court of Audit criticized the low occupancy and drop-out of courses (too little interest). However, the warnings from external advisers and the Supervisory Board had been issued many years earlier.
A look at the current range shows that the criticism is not entirely unjustified: in January, for example, ‘Making boxes’ will be on the course schedule. Cost per person: no less than 43 euros (incl. material). A full tank for 33 euros is available before Christmas at the “gas station for moments of happiness”. Those interested meet this Thursday for the ‘Mad Max’ movie night. Free for participants, but not for the VHS. A sustainable business model?
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
