Lower Austria increases funding for municipal cooperation

The Lower Austrian state government has decided to increase annual funding for municipal cooperation from 5 million euros to 20 million euros. This initiative, led by Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, aims to help municipalities manage tight finances by pooling resources and reducing costs.

Supported activities include shared accounting services, the joint collection of water and waste fees, and the collective use of official experts. The amount of funding a municipality receives will depend on its population size and the specific tasks it transfers to a municipal association.

To further support these efforts, a planned amendment to the Municipal Association Act will be addressed in the state parliament. This amendment seeks to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and increase flexibility, such as allowing associations to expand their tasks without requiring unanimous consent from all member municipalities.