Baden plans EUR 10.1 million in future investments

Baden plans about EUR 10.1 million in investment priorities for 2027, including childcare and water infrastructure, despite continuing budget consolidation, ORF reported.

The proposed budget allocates about EUR 4.6 million to a new kindergarten on Radetzkystraße. The project is needed because the current kindergarten on Schimmergasse is due to close. The city also plans to build a new Baden-Stadt fire station. Initial cost estimates put the project at about EUR 6 million, with grants of around EUR 2 million expected.

Another EUR 2.6 million is earmarked for 2027 to replace the more than 100-year-old drinking water pipeline to Ebenfurth. The city will spend a further EUR 500,000 preparing to modernise its wastewater treatment plant. Work to redesign Südliche Wassergasse, a street, will be completed next year at a cost of EUR 1.2 million.

The budget also includes about EUR 1.5 million for road and pavement repairs and EUR 315,000 to adapt the police station on Hildegardgasse.

The proposed financing budget projects revenue of EUR 114.66 million and expenditure of EUR 118.4 million. Mayor Carmen Jeitler-Cincelli of the Austrian People’s Party said the city would maintain its consolidation efforts while prioritising necessary investment. Deputy mayors Markus Riedmayer of the Social Democratic Party and Jowi Trenner of the Wir Badener citizens’ list said investment in infrastructure was needed to maintain residents’ quality of life.

Jeitler-Cincelli took office after the 2025 city council election, succeeding fellow party member Stefan Szirucsek. A review of the city’s finances had described the situation as “dramatic”; Baden’s debt stood at EUR 19.6 million in 2024. The three-party coalition has made budget consolidation its top priority, adjusting fees and charges to reflect costs and reducing discretionary spending and staff.