Vienna cuts funding to four more kindergarten operators

Vienna has withdrawn funding from four more private kindergarten operators, affecting five locations and around 450 places, ORF reported. The city had already cut funding to eight operators with 13 locations in February.

The latest cancellations were confirmed by MA10, the city’s kindergarten department, in response to an inquiry. The operators’ names were not released because the proceedings are ongoing.

The reasons varied and involved accounting or financial issues identified during inspections, an MA10 spokesperson said. No criminal complaints have been filed.

In February, the city said it was terminating funding agreements with eight private operators over breaches of funding guidelines and accounting rules. The decision affected 13 locations and 760 children.

Earlier cases of suspected misuse of funding at private kindergartens had included spending on flight costs and handbags, according to criticism from the City Audit Office. MA10 had subsequently announced plans to improve and significantly tighten its inspection processes.