Kommunalpolitik#

Local Government is based on the right of a town or local authority to regulate its affairs within the framework of state law. Towns and smaller municipalities have been self-governing since the Middle Ages, when their right to local government was laid down in municipal codes or governed by common law. In 1849 the provisional imperial law on municipalities was passed, and since 1862 local government has been regulated by the imperial law on municipalities and the municipal codes of the provinces. Local policy-making is often restricted by financial resources or by laws and contractual obligations. Local government is largely decided upon by the municipal representatives ( Mayor, Gemeinderat or town council), who are in most cases affiliated to a political party. In some provinces the mayor is directly elected by the people. The main tasks of local government are local traffic and transport, social work (in particular for young people and senior citizens), health care, environmental protection, public utilities, refuse disposal, local commerce and trade (site selection for businesses), schools, sports and cultural affairs (construction of school buildings, establishment of public institutions, maintenance of museum, libraries, adult education, support of private associations). The participation of citizens in local government is encouraged by the local press, local radio and local TV; special journals published by the Association of Austrian Municipalities and the Austrian Association of Cities and Towns give further information. Scientific research is carried out by the Institut fuer Kommunalpolitik (Institute of Local Government) and the Institut fuer Stadtforschung (Institute of Urban Research).