The black-blue state government wants to increase the salaries of mayors in Lower Austria by 2024 at the latest. Even the unofficial ballot should finally be abolished.
A year and a half before the municipal elections and in the middle of the biggest inflationary crisis of our time, black and blue are increasing the salaries of the country’s mayors. And with the greatest conviction. Because compared to federal states such as Vorarlberg, Salzburg and Upper Austria, local heads in Lower Austria earn less money for the same work – and therefore also a salary adjustment for the ÖVP.
Salary increase important for staff recruitment
Depending on the size of the municipality, this must be between 470 and 690 euros per month and per local head by 2024 at the latest. This should help all parties to find staff for the important offices. Even with the ÖVP, which has 452 mayors in this country, it is currently expected that about a third of them will no longer participate in the 2025 elections.
“It is also becoming increasingly difficult for us to make people enthusiastic about the position. That’s why it was important for us to bring it into line with the private sector,” explained party leader Bernhard Ebner and chairman of the Association of Municipalities Johannes Pressl.
The new municipal package, which Schwarz-Blau wants to approve in May, also includes continued salary payments for retiring mayors, as well as a maternity and parental leave scheme. The latter should also lead to a further increase in the quota for women. Assuming a two-thirds majority in the state parliament, the non-official ballot paper will also be abolished.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
