Styria scraps more than 3 million euros in music school aid

More than 3 million euros in planned funding for Styrian music schools has been cut, leaving the municipalities responsible for running them facing a shortfall, ORF reports. The schools teach about 25,000 students each day, and the payments had been included in their current operating budgets.

Robert Ederer, head of the association of music school directors, said he was surprised by the decision. He said he had been told on Tuesday that savings were planned for the next school year, but not the current one. The cuts were announced on Thursday.

“That is a massive slap in the face,” Ederer said. The municipality of Zeltweg, for example, will be short more than 300,000 euros. Existing structures and employment contracts mean the costs will become unaffordable for municipalities, he said.

The decision particularly affects the 30 municipalities responsible for maintaining the schools. Martin Ozimic, managing director of the Association of Municipalities, said many cannot make up for the lost funding.

Education councillor Stefan Herrmann said the cuts were necessary as part of budget consolidation. The Austrian Court of Audit is reviewing the music school system to develop a more efficient structure. The directors’ association hopes a binding music school funding law will be introduced.