94 voters came to the bxa gymnasium to vote on the activity.
Balanced budget
As in the previous year, the city council was able to present a balanced budget. Costs and revenues each amount to CHF 87 million. The good result is due in particular to the special effect of a one-off refund by the canton of the utility tax of 2.5 million francs, as well as the absence of a Corona tax relief, which resulted in 3.2 million francs more tax revenue, said CFO Adrian Hediger. As a result, a contribution of 3.7 million Swiss francs was paid into the fiscal policy reserve. In his explanation, Hediger referred to the financial and business plan drawn up for the years 2022-2026. It contains various key data on financial and economic policy, investment planning of the municipality and assumptions on population development.
Staff costs add up
But despite the balanced budget, it should not be overlooked that expenditure in the 2023 budget is estimated at almost 8.5 million more than the previous year. The major changes compared to the previous year’s budget concern personnel expenses with the adjustment to the cost of living and the increase in jobs in the Center for the elderly and care (APZ) of Breiti. Material costs at the APZ and costs for the introduction of a new school computer system as well as contributions for the financing of the nursing care and the music school in Kloten.
In farewell to the RGPK, President Lukas Müller welcomed the balanced budget and above all the reserves of 3.7 million. The important question is how much money is left for future investments. “We are gradually getting used to the good weather when it comes to finances,” says Müller. But this is dangerous. Because one-time effects such as property gains taxes only happen once. And if you think about them, the budget remains precarious, says Müller. However, the president of the RGPK, on behalf of the board of directors, recommended approving the 2023 budget and also leaving the tax rate at 114%.
In the discussion that followed, Adolf Kellenberger touched on individual balance sheet items. For example, he wondered why 15,000 francs had been budgeted for carnival in the 2023 budget and, for example, asked to cancel this amount from the budget. Even the former councilor Bruno Muff is annoyed by the inflation adjustment for municipal staff of 3.5 percent. The Confederation also pays only 2.5% and OASI recipients receive no more. He therefore applied to fix the cost of living adjustment for Bassersdorf municipal employees at 2.5%. After all, this 1% reduction brings in 164,000 francs, which is half the tax rate.
However, those entitled to vote did not want to know anything about either motion and rejected both together and approved the 2023 budget and the rate unchanged.
Kindergarten Baltenswil: conversion instead of new construction
The second operation concerned the approval of a loan for the expansion of a kindergarten in a former farm in Baltenswil. This results in one-time investment costs of 165,000 francs for original equipment and 48,900 francs for annual rental costs. The background is the lease of the kindergarten in a single-family terraced house, which expires in September 2023. In Baltenswil, 21 children are currently attending the kindergarten. Up to 23 children should continue to attend kindergarten by 2030. With the expansion of the existing property, a new building can be dispensed with, at much higher costs. The voters saw it too and approved the loan application without discussion.
