2023 was the year of transparency. As one of the last countries in Europe, Austria agreed on a freedom of information law that significantly limits official secrecy. This is undoubtedly a milestone on the path to open administration, even though the new law comes with years of delay. At KDZ, we dedicated the year 2023 to transparency as well. Our strategy, developed with the entire team, maps out the way: We stand for bringing transparency to public finances, structures, and processes. A central role in this is played by the Open Spending Austria internet platform (Offener Haushalt), which grew to include 1,491 municipalities in 2023 and now also covers the budgets of municipal associations.
But transparency means more to us: We see it as an obligation to make complex issues understandable and comprehensible. Our fact sheets on public finances, fiscal equalisation, and issues surrounding services of general interest provide interested parties with new insights into these important topics. Our publications – such as Österreichs Städte in Zahlen (Austrian cities in numbers), Finanzausgleich (fiscal equalisation), Kontierungsleitfaden (public accounting guide), Gebührenkalkulation (fee calculation), and the Fiscal Decentralisation Report – address aspects of state governance that are often taken for granted. Yet, understanding of these aspects is limited and mostly confined to a relatively
small circle of experts and practitioners. This is where we generate added value through knowledge. Our consulting projects rely on transparency, too.
Shrinking room for manoeuvre due to tight public budgets requires new strategies. Comparisons are used to show alternative design options, e.g. with regard to the financial performance of regional centres compared to surrounding and peripheral municipalities. With municipal budget projects too, the initial task is always to establish transparency among all stakeholders regarding the current financial status. We are particularly pleased to be able to share KDZ’s experience and knowledge with a growing number of people. In 2023, we
significantly increased engagement with our members, clients, and interested parties. Alongside our 6,147 newsletter subscribers, this interaction occurred through numerous events and was particularly evident in 476 media releases and in our presence on LinkedIn, currently our fastest-growing social media platform, with 1,802 followers. This, too, is an
important contribution towards enhancing transparency in administration and the public sector, a goal we are committed to further amplifying in 2024.
