DG Budget & Public Finances

The Directorate General for Budget and Public Finances assumes overall responsibility for the Austrian federal budget and its goal is to achieve sustained consolidation of public finances. It sees itself as the financial “nerve centre” of the federal government and is responsible for spending public funds used for financing public functions in an efficient, economic and effective manner. It draws up and executes the federal budget and is responsible for the financial relations of the federal state with its political subdivisions, social security institutions and the EU.

Data and facts

• Head: Gerhard Steger
• 2 sub-directorates
• 11 divisions
• approximately 120 employees

Strategic goals

• long-term and sustained consolidation of public finances
• safeguarding "value for money" by structural reforms in areas of budgetary relevance

Range of activities

• The Directorate General for Budget and Public Finances prepares and executes the federal budget in co-operation with the federal ministries.
  The budget is prepared in compliance with the government programme.
  The goal is to continue with the consolidation of the budget by cutting expenditure and to strictly implement the structural reforms initiated by the federal government. Thus, the Directorate General follows a multi - annual government budget plan, containing binding expenditure ceilings for the following four years. By means of rolling yearly updates, the budgetary framework is complemented with the figures of the year adding to the planning horizon.

 

• The Directorate General for Budget and Public Finances is plays an important role in shaping domestic financial relations and in co-ordinating the budgetary policies of the Federal State, the provinces and the municipalities.
  This includes revenue sharing negotiations, sustainable safeguarding of domestic financial stability and implementing the relevant rules.
  The objective is to achieve the most efficient financial framework for the Federal State and its political subdivisions with regard to effective performance of public functions.

 

• The Directorate General for Budget and Public Finances is responsible for the financial flows between the EU budget and the Austrian federal budget. In this context the Budget Directorate represents Austrian interests with regard to the EU budgetary policy.
  This includes being involved in the budget procedure, in shaping and implementing financial perspectives and in the further development of the budget law of the Community.
  The aim is to ensure budgetary and spending discipline in the EU budget and a fair and balanced financing system of the EU.

 

• The Directorate General for Budget and Public Finances works to a large extent on introducing structural reforms and New Public Management tools in the area of federal administration.
  This includes being involved in the reform projects of the federal government and in the further development of budgetary law in accordance with the principles of New Public Management.
  The goal is to establish an institutional and financial framework which safeguards an efficient, thrifty and expedient use of public funds and increases the "value for money" in the most efficient manner.
  The aim of the division for “better regulation” is to reduce the administrative burden for companies by 25%. Thereby, Austrian business should gain one billion euro per year. This measure frees capital of firms for productivity enhancing activities. It eases the administrative burden and makes it less time - consuming. It also facilitates the procedures for undertaking investment and thereby fosters employment.

 

• The Directorate General for Budget and Public Finances is responsible for the budget reform process.
  The budget reform of the Austrian federal government establishes a framework by which tax funds can be used more effectively and efficiently. In addition, the budget reform promotes transparency regarding the goals to be achieved by the federal administration with its budget funds as well as the activities promoting these goals. The implementation of the reform is taking place in two stages – the first stage has been implemented on 1 January 2009; the second stage of the reform will enter into force on 1 January 2013.

Organisation

The Directorate General for Budget and Public Finances has a slim lined, clearly arranged organisational structure: eleven divisions work under the management of two sub-directorates, coordinated by the Director General.

One sub-directorate is organised to shadow line ministries, with each ministry having its contact person in the Ministry of Finance. The other sub-directorate is entrusted with cross-cutting issues (e.g. revenue sharing, EU budget, budget law, budget planning and controlling) and with coordination.

More than half of the heads of divisions are women.

 

 

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