The Graz City Council will convene for a special session on Thursday, September 17, 2026, to address the city's current financial situation. The meeting was forced by opposition parties ÖVP, FPÖ, SPÖ, and NEOS following a budget freeze earlier this month.
Mayor Elke Kahr and Finance Councillor Manfred Eber of the KPÖ, alongside the Greens, are planning an austerity package. This follows an unexpected 36-million-euro requirement for disability assistance and a temporary suspension of new subsidy processing.
The government has set a budget schedule through 2026, including a plan to leave 25 percent of retirement vacancies unfilled. While strict conditions now allow for new orders as of September 11, SPÖ spokesperson Daniela Schlüsselberger remains concerned.