Aargau government wants tax rebate with full state coffers
Published: Friday, Nov 15th 2024, 12:40
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Taxpayers in Aargau are to benefit financially from the full state coffers in future. The cantonal government wants to be able to grant tax rebates retrospectively in the event of surpluses. To make this possible, the tax law is to be amended.
The planned tax rebate is a one-off annual refund, the State Chancellery of Aargau announced on Friday. This is to be granted if the canton's financial accounts show a surplus and the financial situation is stable.
In contrast to a reduction in the tax rate, the rebate would not deprive the financial budget of future revenue, Finance Director Markus Dieth (center) is quoted as saying: "Rather, revenue that was higher than necessary in the past would be returned. It is time for the population and companies to share in the surpluses.
The tax rebate is to be granted in percentage points of the tax rate and applied to the tax bill for the year after next, as proposed by the Government Council.
Full "Sparkässeli
The conditions for the discount are to be set out in the law. For example, there should be no net debt and, according to the government council's proposal, there must be 800 to 1,000 million francs in the equalization reserve, a "savings fund" for bad times. This money should be used to cover any budgeted deficits in the financial planning.
This equalization reserve currently contains almost one billion francs. Thanks to the positive financial statements in recent years, the canton has also paid off its debts.
The cantonal government considers the canton's financial situation to be "stable". It anticipates a deficit of 117.5 million francs in the 2025 budget. The deficit is to be offset with money from the reserve. A Grand Council committee would like to save CHF 22 million and reduce the deficit accordingly.
©Keystone/SDA
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