Explosive audit report

No charges for water and sewerage for 15 years

In Steinhaus bei Wels, water and sewerage charges have allegedly not been collected for 15 years. (Bild: Wenzel Markus)

The Upper Austrian State Court of Audit scrutinized the municipality of Steinhaus bei Wels. The auditors discovered a number of shortcomings. Nevertheless, FP local leader Harald Piritsch remains calm. The SPÖ district chairwoman Petra Wimmer is calling for consequences and not a return to business as usual. 

There are obviously conditions that are far removed from proper business management." This is how Petra Wimmer, National Councillor and SPÖ Chairwoman of the Wels-Land district, summarizes the report of the State Court of Auditors (LRH) on Steinhaus. While the FP mayor Harald Piritsch, who has been criticized, sees the same situation as in other municipalities, Wimmer speaks of a scandal.

Someone must bear the political responsibility for this scandal. We demand consequences.

Petra Wimmer, SPÖ-Bezirksvorsitzende

"Under no circumstances should we simply go back to business as usual." It is inconceivable that the collection of water and sewerage charges on unbuilt land was apparently completely waived for 15 years. As the LRH assumes that a large proportion of these fees are already time-barred, they are therefore no longer recoverable. "Who is liable for the damage?" asks Petra Wimmer.

The situation here is the same as in other municipalities. I haven't done anything wrong.

Harald Piritsch, FPÖ-Bürgermeister

She also criticizes the fact that the funding system was rather generous. The kindergarten extension in 2017 started without a funding commitment. "There was no fundamental decision by the municipal council to tackle this project. The municipal council was also never concerned with the fact that the project would not cost 500,000 euros, contrary to the original estimates, but more than twice as much."

Local council leader Piritsch does not want to comment on the report. However, he says: "What consequences should there be? I haven't done anything wrong. The report will go to the local council, then to the audit committee."