Keller-Sutter: “The federal government has an expenditure problem, not a revenue problem”
Published: Friday, Sep 20th 2024, 14:40
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According to Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter, the austerity package presented by the Federal Council can succeed in eliminating the forecast billion-euro deficits and bringing the budget into balance. "The federal government has an expenditure problem, not a revenue problem."
The Federal Council wants to reduce the federal budget by CHF 3 to 3.5 billion by 2027 and by CHF 4 to 4.5 billion by 2030, Keller-Sutter told the media in Bern on Friday. The more that is done on the expenditure side, the more financial leeway the Confederation will have for future challenges.
Keller-Sutter said that the government's proposals were comprehensive, balanced and took account of popular decisions, the cantons and parliament. The aim is to avoid an excessive burden on taxpayers. With tax reforms that have already been implemented or are still planned, the federal government will generate over CHF 7 billion in revenue annually in future.
Democratic decisions such as the Yes to the Climate Protection Act were taken into account by the Federal Council when drawing up the austerity package. "However, the adopted climate targets can be achieved with a more efficient use of resources," said Keller-Sutter.
Keller-Sutter described the expert group's report as a "good basis for the follow-up work". Following discussions with the political parties, the cantons and the social partners, the Federal Council intends to submit the package for consultation with a few amendments.
In addition to the sixty or so measures, Keller-Sutter announced that more would be added in the coming years. There is still potential in the division of tasks between the federal government and the cantons. However, the Federal Council does not want to anticipate the ongoing "Entflechtung 27" project at this time.
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