Béatrice Wertli (center) speaks out against the Bern City Council’s draft budget in the guest article. She calls for greater prioritization of spending.
Beatrice Wertli (centre of Bern). -Keystone
The most important thing in brief
- The Bern city budget will be voted on on November 24, 2024.
- Béatrice Wertli (center) comments on the budget plan in the guest article, which she rejects.
- She advocates a clear prioritization of the city of Bern’s spending.
Ad
The opposition to the city of Bern’s highly deficit budget is growing – and with good reason. We, the centrist representatives in the Bern city parliament, are not alone: From an initially small minority, the number of budget critics has grown to over 40 percent of the Bern population, who have consistently rejected the city’s debt budget over the past two years. But why are more and more Bernese refusing to give their consent?
In her guest article, Beatrice Wertli speaks out in favor of saying no to the Bern City Council’s draft budget. (Archive image) – Keystone
On November 24th, Bern’s city budget will be voted on – a budget that shows a deficit of almost 30 million francs. The budget presented by the local council already showed a deficit of 28 million francs, although tax revenue is increasing. But the city council, dominated by a left-green majority, increased the deficit to 30 million francs through additional spending. Instead of reducing spending, additional investments were decided without considering the long-term consequences for the city’s financial stability.
However, the deficit is just the tip of the iceberg: At the same time, the city’s debt is expected to grow by a further 80 million francs, thus exceeding the 1.7 billion franc limit. Suggestions from the Center to prioritize spending and correct financial course fell on deaf ears. Instead, spending plans for the coming year have been decided, only a small part of which can be financed from our own resources – the rest will cause the debt to continue to grow.
What does the future of the city of Bern look like?
With this course we are heading straight towards a future with a mountain of debt. The city of Bern is spending money that it simply does not have – and to an extent that no sensible financial planning can justify. Clear prioritization of spending seems to be a foreign concept and responsibility towards future generations is ignored.
The Bern city budget will be voted on on November 24th. – keystone
A “yes” to this budget means placing a heavy burden on future generations. It jeopardizes investments in education, sustainable infrastructure and social projects that will later be urgently needed. That’s why we say: NO to this budget!
Do you think Bern’s city budget is appropriate?
For a secure future and a city of Bern that has its finances under control – we are all called upon to set an example on November 24th.
***
About the author: Beatrice Wertli Meierhans (*1976) is running for Die Mitte Stadt Bern in the local council elections in November 2024. She sat on the Bern city council from 2009 to 2013.
Ad
Ad
More on the topic:
VoteOppositionThe CenterMortgageFranconia
