New budget dispute

Graz nurseries: “We are losing 280 places!”

City Councillor for Education Kurt Hohensinner sounds the alarm: "This fall, we could fall below 90 percent coverage."(Bild: mattegg - stock.adobe.com)

Kurt Hohensinner, ÖVP councillor for education in Graz, is sounding the alarm: the annual reduction in group sizes and lack of budget funds are putting the care of the little ones in the provincial capital at risk. KPÖ City Councillor for Finance Manfred Eber counters.

Graz City Councillor for Education Kurt Hohensinner is looking forward to the new kindergarten year (registration started yesterday, see report below) with a few worry lines on his forehead. In his view, the KPÖ-Greens-SPÖ coalition is taking the wrong path when it comes to childcare.

Kurt Hohensinner (ÖVP) with city leader Elke Kahr (KPÖ)(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

Background: Throughout Styria, the trend is towards smaller group sizes in kindergartens. The maximum number of little ones is reduced every year. In 2023, the number fell from 25 to 24 children, in 2024 from 24 to 23, etc. According to the city's education department, only 20 boys and girls per group will be cared for in 2027. "This gradual reduction means we will lose 280 kindergarten places every year," explains the ÖVP city party chairman in an interview with Krone.

This year, the education department has 42 percent more funds - that's 35 million euros - at its disposal compared to 2022.

Graz-Finanzstadtrat Manfred Eber (KPÖ)

Countermeasures need to be taken now, "because Graz would need 14 new kindergarten groups per year just to maintain the current level of provision", says Hohensinner, who has presented an expansion concept. Unfortunately, however, there is not enough funding to implement it. "With the current double budget, only a slight expansion will be possible in future." This means that there will be six new kindergarten and two crèche groups in 2025 and four kindergarten groups in 2026, but no additional crèche places.

KPÖ City Councillor for Finance Manfred Eber disagrees: "Last year alone, ten new crèche groups and nine new kindergarten groups were added to the tariff system." But the financial limits are now being reached.