From April the free kindergarten should come. Municipalities that are already funding parental contributions now have money “left over”. If the responsible state councilor has her way, this money could be used for quality improvements or for afternoon care.

SALZBURG. After the agreement of the Salzburg parties on the free kindergarten, the question of implementation and implementation for the sponsors arises.

13 million euros from amplifier funds

From April 1, 2023, morning care in Salzburg will be free for children between the ages of three and six. The costs of around 13 million euros for this will be borne entirely by the state and will come from the amplification funds. According to the state, there should be no additional burden on the communities. The package should be decided in mid-March.

Specifically, he sees Financial subsidy for families from April 1st like this:

• Up to 1,080 euros for each child per year in the public kindergarten.
• Up to 2,130 euros for each child per year in a private kindergarten.

>>HERE< you learn more about it.

Change billing in the current year

The conversion means an intervention in existing contracts in the current kindergarten year. The municipalities, which are responsible for the kindergartens, are not afraid of the administrative effort that will result from this: “We assume that the support will be paid in the form of a lump sum per kindergarten place. The municipality receives the amount X, which is not charged on. This is also the case with the beginning of the kindergarten year with federal funding,” says Günther Mitterer, President of the Salzburg Municipal Association and Mayor of the City of St. Johann.

Help earlier instead of making things easier

The responsible state councilor Andrea Klambauer says that “it would be easier to implement it at the beginning of a care year”, but adds: “With the rising cost of living, no family would understand if you waited half a year for the introduction for administrative reasons.”

Municipalities should invest their money in after-school care

The state councilor reassured communities that already provide the entire funding for the parental contributions, but at the same time the funding amount of the state. If she has her way, these communities should now alternatively let their money flow “into quality improvement, afternoon care or lunch”.

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