Cantonal finances BL Million deficit in the 2025 budget: Canton Baselland wants to save money
The canton of Basel-Landschaft is expecting a deficit of 62 million francs for the 2025 budget. Finance Director Anton Lauber (center) announced cost-cutting measures in the three-digit million range to the media on Wednesday. Among other things, 352 cantonal jobs are to be cut over the next four years, as stated in the 2025-2028 task and finance plan (AFP).
25.09.2024, 15:27
SDA
"We don't have a revenue problem, we have an expenditure problem," said Lauber. While an increase of over 100 million francs is budgeted for tax revenue, the canton is expecting increased expenditure.
"We have incredible cost growth in the areas of healthcare and education," said the finance director, which is also due to factors that cannot be influenced, such as population growth. The main cost drivers in the healthcare sector were inpatient hospital treatments, while in education it was special schools and contributions to the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland.
Based on these prospects, Lauber wants to reduce the budget by CHF 393 million between 2025 and 2028 with a financial strategy. According to the AFP, the lion's share of this - CHF 164 million - will be spent on transfer expenses. In addition, the number of jobs at the canton is to be reduced. This is to be achieved without layoffs, but by not reappointing staff, as Lauber said. He sees this as saving CHF 71 million. The financial strategy for the AFP also mentions a reduction in material costs and a reduction in vacation and time credits.
Back in the black from 2026
With this four-year financial strategy, the various directorates have a savings potential of over 200 million francs, the government as a whole of just under 100 million francs and the cantonal parliament of just under 42 million francs, as Lauber said.
Due to external factors such as the education and healthcare sectors, the canton is still expecting costs to rise. However, this could be curbed with the financial strategy presented, said the finance director.
For the following years, the canton of Baselland is budgeting in the black again. He is forecasting a surplus of CHF 9 million for the 2026 budget and CHF 65 million for 2027. For 2028, the canton is expecting a surplus of CHF 35 million.
There will be high investment costs in the coming years. The largest investment project for the coming year is the vocational training center in Muttenz. Over the next ten years, the canton will spend around CHF 2 billion on buildings, said Isaac Reber (Greens), Director of Construction and Environmental Protection, two thirds of which will be spent on maintaining and preserving the value of existing infrastructure.
Criticism of savings plans from the left
There have already been reactions from politicians to the cost-cutting measures. In a press release, the SP criticized the fact that "tax giveaways" would lead to a "package of cuts" for others. It also criticized the fact that only a small part of the budget cuts are being made by parliament, which is why the population cannot use democratic means to oppose them.
The Vpod trade union criticized the planned job cuts at the canton. According to a press release issued on Wednesday, this would mean a direct reduction in public services and a deterioration in working conditions. "It is completely unacceptable that employees have to foot the bill again and again," writes the Vpod.
