Ticino Grand Council gives green light for delayed 2024 budget
Published: Wednesday, Feb 7th 2024, 12:10
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The Ticino cantonal parliament approved the 2024 budget late on Wednesday afternoon after a three-day debate. Despite a deficit of CHF 130 million, the parliamentarians narrowly approved the budget with 46 votes in favor, 36 against and two abstentions.
The savings proposal for cantonal staff in particular led to heated exchanges. They were to accept a salary reduction of two percent from an annual salary of CHF 60,000.
However, the Center Party, GLP and SP presented proposed amendments that would remove this so-called "solidarity contribution" from the budget. This infuriated the leader of the FDP parliamentary group, who pointed out that this would increase the deficit by CHF 8 million to a total of CHF 130 million - a fact that apparently did not matter to the vast majority in the Council.
Starting the year without a budget
After a debate lasting almost 17 hours, a narrow majority of the Grand Council approved the 2024 budget. The debate had been postponed several times since December. The canton of Ticino therefore started the new year without a budget for the fourth time in its history.
The austerity package announced by the government last October has led to numerous protests in Ticino over the past few months. In mid-January, around 5,000 people took to the streets in Bellinzona at a large demonstration entitled "Stop ai tagli" - "Stop the cuts". Among other things, cuts are being made to education, public transport and healthcare facilities.
The reason for the cost-cutting measures is a spending brake that was approved by voters in Ticino in 2022. This stipulates that the cantonal income statement must be balanced by the end of 2025 without burdening the municipalities or increasing taxes.
©Keystone/SDA
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