Government elections BS A look back at the legislative term of Basel's Finance Director Soland

On October 20, the canton of Basel-Stadt will hold general elections for the new government. In a loose series, the Keystone-SDA news agency reviews the most important dossiers of the incumbent government councillors. Part 2: Finance Director Tanja Soland (SP).

Tanja Soland (SP)

49-year-old lawyer Tanja Soland has been a member of the Basel government since 2020. She was elected to the executive in October 2019 as the successor to her party colleague Eva Herzog, who had previously been elected to the Council of States. Without claiming to be exhaustive, these issues have shaped Soland's work over the past four years:

Annual accounts: Under Soland's aegis, the canton was always in the black. The finance director was therefore able to build on her predecessor Eva Herzog's success with the income statements. Even in the coronavirus year 2021, the state accounts closed with a surplus of CHF 215 million. Contrary to expectations, there were no tax shortfalls due to the pandemic.

In 2022, Soland was able to present a surplus of CHF 215 million. One year later, it was even 434 million, i.e. 421 million more than budgeted. Exceptionally high income from corporate taxes provided the windfall. However, several parliamentary procedural requests and initiatives from various parties to refund or otherwise use these surpluses are still pending.

Tax package: Soland was successful at the ballot box with a tax relief package. This was possible not least thanks to a compromise between the conservative and social democratic sides. The impetus came from a municipal initiative from Riehen, which called for an increase in child tax deductions. Soland proposed lowering both the lower income rate and wealth tax instead. The Economic and Taxation Committee of the Grand Council supplemented the package with further relief for both higher and lower incomes. From the SVP to the SP, the committee's proposal met with approval, while the Greens and Basta opposed it. Voters approved the proposal in March 2023 with 84.4 percent support. The package, which came into force from the 2023 tax period, will result in a reduction in revenue of CHF 88 million.

Support package: The OECD minimum taxation and Basel-Stadt's reaction to it is a chapter that has not yet been closed. To cushion this burden for companies, Soland presented a support package in June 2024 to maintain Basel's attractiveness as a business location for large and small companies. A fund with annual contributions of 150 to 300 million francs is to be set up for this purpose. The aim is to promote innovation and encourage parental leave that goes beyond the minimum.

Real estate: In the canton's real estate policy, the Finance Director continued the 1000+ housing program launched by her predecessor. This is intended to implement the constitutional initiative "Right to housing". However, the decision in 2021 to purchase the 22,750 square meter Clara site in Kleinbasel caused quite a stir. This had been owned by the Vischer family for 150 years. As Soland said at the time, the canton prevailed against several prospective buyers. However, Soland rejected the purchase of the Horburg site, contrary to a proposal from the Grand Council.

Musical Theater: Together with the then Director of Education and current President of the Government Conradin Cramer (LDP), Soland defended the government's plans to convert the Musical Theater into an indoor swimming pool. In doing so, she had to face a debate with the supporters of the initiative to preserve the Kulturhaus. Soland defended the indoor swimming pool plans with the renovation costs for the building, the resulting rent and the assessment that the Musical Theater could not be operated profitably. The vote on the initiative is still pending.