Cantonal budget shows a deficit of CHF 130 million

The cantonal budget had initially shown a deficit of CHF 140 million but, as a result of cutbacks on such matters as reducing individuals' health insurance contributions, reduction in data protection, administration and public transport costs, this deficit has been able to be reduced to CHF 130 million.
 
Despite all these expenses, what cantonal residents will be pleased to hear is that the tax threshold will actually remain as it is, namely at 82%.
 
The cutbacks in relation to the reduction in healthcare contributions meant savings of CHF 3.3 million and additional cutbacks in administration meant a further CHF 5.5 million were able to be saved.
 
Withdrawal from a pioneering public transport venture brought savings of a further CHF 660,000 a year, or indeed as much as up to CHF 10 to 15 million if the long-term aspect is taken into consideration.
 
As to how these dire financial straits came into being, the more right-wing parties put it all down to the excessive contributions the canton is expected to pay to the National Equalisation Fund (CHF 316.6 million in 2015) while the left-wing parties put it down to the canton's low tax strategy.
 
In looking at all possible ways of saving money, the SP party in the cantonal parliament felt that it was not right that taxpayers should be expected to foot the bill for the glass of kirsch parliamentarians enjoy following official dinners, which could have led to savings of CHF 2,500. However a motion to discontinue with this tradition was defeated by 41 to 16.