Genevans want lower income tax
Published: Sunday, Nov 24th 2024, 16:40
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In the canton of Geneva, income tax will fall by an average of almost nine percent for the majority of taxpayers in future. On Sunday, voters also confirmed that the Grand Council will continue to be responsible for public transport fares and spoke out against more rights for landowners.
After counting almost 99% of the votes, the people of Geneva approved the tax reform with a majority of 61.3%. The reduction in income tax will come into force from 2025 and will affect all taxpayers. The middle class will benefit the most. For households, taxes will fall by more than eleven percent. For high incomes, the tax reduction will still be around five percent.
The state of Geneva will lose revenue of around CHF 320 million. The municipalities will lose CHF 108 million.
The parties on the right and in the center of the political spectrum were of the opinion that this tax cut can be borne by the canton and comes at the right time. They argue that the accounts of the State of Geneva for the last three years show an accumulated surplus of over three billion francs. The municipalities had also benefited from this good period.
The SP and the Greens complained that the surpluses were not permanent. The tax shortfalls could therefore not be compensated for in the long term. The state would therefore have to cut spending in the long term and the municipalities would be forced to increase taxes.
Public transport prices
In Geneva, the Grand Council retains sovereignty over the tariffs of the Geneva public transport company (Transports publics genevois, TPG).
The Geneva electorate rejected a bill with 69.50 percent of votes against, which aimed to transfer responsibility for the tariff table to the cantonal government.
Those in favor of the change were of the opinion that the current situation was too rigid and did not allow TPGs to adjust their tariffs quickly enough. For the left, on the other hand, it was an attempt to disregard the will of the people.
Rights of landowners
The third voting proposal revolved around spatial planning. Specifically, it was about the so-called Plan localisé de quartier (PLQ). This district plan is a key instrument in Geneva that public bodies can use to shape their territory.
A new law aimed to give landowners a greater say in the process of adopting a neighborhood plan. Voters rejected this law, against which the left had launched a referendum, with 62.45% of votes against.
©Keystone/SDA
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