Salzburg city government touts progress but faces housing test

Salzburg’s city government says its four parties are working well together, but still must agree on a long-term development plan, ORF reported on Friday in a midterm review of the administration.

Mayor Bernhard Auinger of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) praised the coalition’s cooperation and pace of implementation. The city cited new bus routes, the S-Bike bicycle-sharing system and traffic calming between Neutor and the Rotkreuz car park among its achievements. It also pointed to renovations of municipal housing and a one-third drop in Airbnb apartments.

Deputy Mayor Kay-Michael Dankl of the Communist Party (KPÖ) said the measures had proved effective compared with those in other cities, including Vienna. The conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) also counted the new market regulations as a success.

However, the parties have yet to reach agreement on Salzburg’s spatial development plan, which sets out the city’s direction for the next 25 years. The plan has been under discussion for more than a year and requires a three-quarters majority.

The SPÖ, KPÖ and Green Citizens’ List have proposed 12,000 homes, with 75 percent as subsidised rental housing. The ÖVP wants more owner-occupied housing and commercial space. Green Citizens’ List representative Anna Schiester said she believed the parties could find a compromise, while ÖVP representative Christoph Brandstätter said the details needed further examination.

Auinger said he remained optimistic that the parties would reach an agreement. The city government has until summer 2027 to do so.