Financial deficit of the university due to energy and personnel costs
politics
Three million euros for the energy supply have hitherto burdened the budget of the University of Salzburg every year. Now that amount is likely to multiply. In addition, there are much higher personnel costs due to inflation. The university is threatened with a two-digit million hole. Other universities are now demanding more money from the federal government.
Einstab has been dealing with energy saving crises at the University of Salzburg for weeks. Lowering the room temperature is one of the suggestions, says Rector Hendrik Lehnert: “We will certainly consider 19 degrees.” Better use of lecture halls is also possible, says the Rector: “The optimal utilization of individual halls is coming, but others will not be in put into operation.”
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The University of Salzburg is even more worried about the high inflation and the associated increase in personnel costs. Rector Lehnert says that they are counting on a plus of six percent instead of the 2.3 percent priced in the budget: “We assume that this valorization alone will cost us up to ten million euros a year.”
“Personnel costs the biggest problem”
Vice Rector Barbara Romauer, who is responsible for finances, confirmed the fears: “Our biggest problem is not energy at all, but the valorization of personnel costs. We can’t do it alone.”
80 percent of the entire budget has to be spent on staff – around 110 million euros annually. Now the federal government is supposed to alleviate the financial hardship with higher grants. Not only in Salzburg, but at all universities in the country. That could total around half a billion euros.