Cantonal Council SO Yes to supplementary and additional credit of CHF 61 million
The Solothurn cantonal parliament has approved supplementary and additional credits of CHF 61 million for 2023. This is slightly more than the deficit of 58.3 million francs reported in the 2023 state accounts.
26.06.2024, 10:07
SDA
On Wednesday, the members of the Cantonal Council approved the supplementary and additional credits with 93 votes in favor and none against. The unforeseen additional expenditure is spread across around 50 different individual items from all five government departments.
One reason for the additional costs was that inflation had been underestimated when budgeting, said Matthias Borner (SVP), President of the Finance Commission.
The smallest amount of CHF 2,845 relates to the "printed matter credit" of the State Chancellery. Due to additional costs for the National Council and Council of States elections, the 2.65 million credit was slightly exceeded, as stated in the government's message.
At CHF 15.2 million, the largest financial chunk relates to the Department of Home Affairs, which had to finance higher hospital costs, among other things. Additional costs of CHF 14.5 million were incurred in elementary school, with baby boomers, a greater need for special schools and the Ukrainian refugee children playing a role.
The Department of Construction and Justice had additional expenditure of CHF 13 million, including for higher depreciation on the cantonal road network, building construction, remediation of contaminated sites and contributions to railroad infrastructure.
The Cantonal Council also approved the 2023 annual report by a large majority and without dissenting votes, following a lengthy and lively debate. As already announced at the end of March, the Canton of Solothurn's expenditure surplus amounted to CHF 58.3 million last year.
