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The reasons for the many kindergarten bankruptcies

Minibambini (left), Perlenmeer (top right) and Alt Wien: three recent examples of insolvent kindergarten operators(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Martin Jöchl, Lukas Zimmer, Imre Antal)

Once again, a kindergarten subsidized by the City of Vienna has gone bankrupt. Even if there was no misuse of subsidies in the latest case, other insolvencies have degenerated into hair-raising crime stories that are keeping the criminal courts busy. Many millions of taxpayers' money are at stake.  

The private kindergarten operator Perlenmeer is insolvent, the locations in the west and north of the city have been closed since Monday - we reported. The operators (a collective of parents) were no longer able to pay rent, salaries and electricity. As a result, the municipality stopped its funding, which led to bankruptcy.