The effects of Austria’s tight federal budget continue to cause debate, particularly regarding the police force. Alongside already ordered cuts to overtime, potential reductions to the climate ticket for police trainees and the recruitment bonus introduced in 2023 are also being discussed. These details come from a meeting protocol from the Styrian State Police Directorate.
According to the document, the climate ticket will “no longer be paid as of June 2026.” The ticket had been introduced nationwide by the Interior Ministry as part of a recruitment drive, allowing police trainees free public transport.
The document also states that the recruitment bonus “will be discontinued.” This bonus has been in place since 2023 for officers who successfully recruit new trainees. In Styria, overtime hours (“Mehrdienstleistungen”) are to be cut by 20 percent. Construction projects are reportedly on hold, and the Graz bicycle police will patrol with only half as many officers in the summer of 2025.
Interior Ministry Denies Cuts to Climate Ticket
The Styrian Police Directorate referred inquiries to the Interior Ministry, which declined to comment directly on the contents of the protocol that had been circulated to all district police commands. However, the ministry emphasized its responsibility for the climate ticket and recruitment bonuses and reiterated that no savings would be made at the expense of public safety. The recruitment campaign, including these benefits, would continue.
It remains unclear why the document mentions planned cuts to the climate ticket and bonuses. The ministry did not respond to questions regarding the impact of overtime reductions. It only stated that every police directorate is “naturally required to manage operations economically and frugally.”
Police officers told APA that in some Styrian districts, only two patrols are operating during night shifts due to staff shortages. Nighttime operations and sector patrols have already been reduced, and sick leave replacements are increasingly difficult to arrange.
Criticism of Uneven Budget Cuts Across Austria
As APA reported in March, the Vienna police had already implemented overtime cuts. Similar measures are rumored to be planned in other federal states. So far, only the nine police music bands have received uniform national guidelines.
Martin Heinzl, federal chairman of the Christian-social police union (FCG), recently criticized the patchwork of cost-saving measures across the provinces. He said that while he generally opposes cutbacks, if they are unavoidable, “clear regulations from the Interior Ministry would be desirable to ensure uniformity across the states.” Without this, he warned, frustration and jealousy could grow among the police workforce.
Jürgen Grill, head of the Social Democratic police union (FSG) in Styria, called the overtime cuts “a sign of how little value is placed on public safety.” Overtime, he emphasized, never happens without good reason.
