Genevans vote on income tax reduction
Published: Wednesday, Oct 30th 2024, 10:40
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In Geneva, a tax cut, spatial planning and public transport fares are on the ballot paper on November 24. The conservatives and the left are at odds on all of these issues.
The reduction in income tax is a promise that the State Council included in its legislative program. This reduction, which would come into force from 2025 if it is approved, affects all taxpayers. The middle class would benefit the most. For households, taxes would fall by more than 11 percent. For high incomes, the reduction would be around 5 percent.
This project, which was drawn up by the government in order to strengthen the purchasing power of the population, would deprive the state of Geneva of revenue amounting to around CHF 320 million. For their part, the municipalities would have to forgo 108 million francs.
The parties on the right and center of the political spectrum believe 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 have also benefited from these good times.
The Left and the Greens sound quite different. The surpluses are not permanent. The tax shortfalls could therefore not be compensated for in the long term, they complain. The state would therefore have to cut spending in the long term and the municipalities would be forced to raise taxes.
From parliament to government
Another bill concerns the setting of public transport fares. Currently, the fares of Geneva's public transport companies (Transports publics genevois, TPG) are enshrined in law as a result of an initiative adopted in 2014 and any change requires the adoption of a law by the Grand Council.
The amendment aims to transfer responsibility for the tariff table from the Grand Council to the State Council. Supporters of the amendment believe that the current situation is too rigid and does not allow TPGs to adjust their tariffs quickly enough.
The Left, on the other hand, does not want to make the State Council the decision-making body for TPG fares. Such an organization would deprive the population of the opportunity to vote on changes to ticket and season ticket prices, they criticize. For them, this is an attempt to disregard the will of the people.
Rights of landowners
The third referendum proposal revolves around spatial planning. Specifically, it concerns 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 law wants to change the process for adopting a neighborhood plan. The left has launched a referendum against this.
What is new in the law is that the consent of the owners of the desired properties must be obtained at the beginning of the process. If a majority of owners refuse to give their consent, the municipality would be obliged to hold a consultative vote in order to finalize the draft neighbourhood plan. This would then go through the traditional steps, with the Grand Council as the decision-making body and a possible cantonal vote.
The Left Party criticizes the law for giving too much weight to villa owners and their particular interests at the expense of the general public. It also fears that the construction of affordable housing will be hindered.
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