Municipal finances Chur Chur parliament sinks the city government's austerity package
On Thursday, the Chur parliament blocked the city government's controversial austerity proposals. It decided by 10 votes to 8 not to even consider a broad package of savings and measures. Cancellation of the popular ice rink in the city center is therefore off the table, as are cuts to culture, childcare and schools.
The "package of measures to maintain investment capacity" was drawn up by the city government on the basis of orders from parliament, the municipal council. The requirement was not to allow the self-financing ratio to fall below 60 percent and at the same time to keep investments high.
The city council then immediately drew up a package of over 100 measures. It provided for 8 million francs in new revenue and equally high savings. This went too far for many. The package met with massive resistance from the population right from the start. A few hundred people protested against it outside Chur town hall before the parliamentary session.
"Austerity package that nobody ordered"
Individual parliamentary groups also reacted with consternation. "The city council is offering an austerity package that nobody ordered," explained Corina Cabalzar for the SP parliamentary group. Parliament had only wanted a report with considerations from the city government. The savings proposals presented would "cause real damage" to culture, schools and families.
At the same time, Chur has the best annual results of all Swiss cities and is still making a profit, emphasized Cabalzar. The package was therefore a "clear-cutting in advance". The Greens and the Center Party sounded the same horn.
The GLP, FDP and SVP, on the other hand, shared the view of the city government. They assume that the city's financial situation will deteriorate over the next few years. They see a need for action in order to keep investments at a high level.
"Failure to act will jeopardize the city's financial stability", warned SVP member Johann Ulrich Salis in vain. Not to enter would mean postponing the solution to the problem. "The city is in a good position today because we have always looked at the finances," explained Rainer Good. "If we run up debts today, the future generation will pay the price", said the FDP municipal councillor.
"Balanced in a certain sense"
The bill is balanced "in a certain sense", said GLP member and GPK President Jürg Kappeler in support of the government's package of measures. It envisages the same amount of new revenue as savings. "The increase in property tax is the largest item in the package of measures," he emphasized.
If nothing is done, the city will have to incur new debt amounting to CHF 250 million by 2028. Financial simulations would show this. "I don't want to saddle the city with these additional 250 million", explained Kappeler.
In the end, the opposing factions of the SP, Greens and Free List as well as the Center outvoted the supporting factions of the FDP, SVP and GLP by two votes. The city council's proposal was sunk without even being discussed.
