Overview
- State auditors report a total municipal deficit of about €625 million at the end of last year, the second-largest shortfall since 2010.
- Preliminary figures show the deficit swelled to €1.57 billion in the first half of 2025 as expenditures outpaced revenue growth.
- Nearly 40 percent of municipalities failed to balance their cash accounts in 2024, including 11 of 12 independent cities and 22 of 24 districts.
- The Kommunalbericht flags inefficient administrative practices, identifies unnecessary spending, and outlines specific areas for savings.
- Rechnungshof president Marcel Hürter calls for strict fiscal discipline backed by robust financial oversight and a joint effort by local, state, and federal levels.