Markus Messerli is the new mayor

The new mayor of Erlenbach, Markus Messerli.

With 110 voters present and a voter turnout of 8.32 percent, the municipal meeting of Erlenbach im Simmental “approved by a large majority all transactions,” the municipality announced.

Because no more proposals were received than seats to be filled in the general renewal elections from 2024 to 2027, silent elections took place. The outgoing mayor and “new” local councilor Andreas Brügger, as chairman of the meeting, declared the following people elected in a silent election process to applause from the meeting:

They will resign from the local council at the end of 2023: Andres Schütz (Vice President of the Municipal Council and Head of the Transport Department), Oswald Dubach (Head of the Construction, Planning, Agriculture Department), Martin Steiner (Head of the Finance, Real Estate, Culture, Tourism Department) and Walter Mani (Head of the Education Department) ( from left).Photos: available

Budget approved with deficit

The 2024 budget shows a surplus of 112,100 francs in the general budget and a surplus of 197,400 francs in the general budget. The balance sheet as of January 1, 2023 shows a balance sheet surplus of around 1.4 million francs and a financial policy reserve of around 1.985 million francs, which had to be created by law.

The investment calculation shows investment expenditure of 2.243 million francs and investment income of 30,000 francs, resulting in a result of 2.213 million francs. The investments burden the income statement with follow-up costs (capital costs, i.e. interest expenses, depreciation, operating costs such as additional personnel expenses, maintenance subscriptions, material expenses). The community can financially afford other large projects, such as road renovation.

The municipal assembly approves the budget, which expects a tax system of 1.64 units and property taxes of 1.50 per thousand of the official value.

Financial plan 2024 to 2028

Investments for the coming years will amount to 2.213 million francs in 2024, 288,000 francs in 2025, 20,000 francs in 2026 and 2027 and zero francs from 2028. On the income side, the expected tax revenues and the tax unit of 1.64 for natural and legal persons in the current economy were taken into account.

It is said that the investments at this level and in this scale are still barely manageable for the community of Erlenbach im Simmental. Assuming all expectations come true as forecast, the balance sheet surplus will be around 0.9 million francs at the end of 2028. This corresponds to 3.94 tax investment tenths. «The municipality of Erlenbach im Simmental is no longer in the green zone to absorb future surpluses and finance new investments. Due to the investment requirements for the next few years, a high level of borrowing must be expected.” The financial plan for 2024 to 2028 will be noted by the municipal assembly.

Commitment loan sole erosion Simme

On the bottom of the Simme, in the section between the SKW (BKW) weir and the railway bridge, there has been increased deepening in recent years. As a result, some bank protection devices became unstable and slipped into the Simme. This in turn causes an even narrower drainage profile, which further increases the tendency for erosion. This process endangers buildings and factory lines locally.

As part of the “Sohlenerosion Simme Erlenbach” concept study, it emerged that the sole in the area of ​​the railway bridge is stable. The present construction project therefore concentrates on the area between the SKW dam and 260 meters below the Wydi Bridge.

The developer of the project is the municipality. Since subsidies for hydraulic engineering projects are only paid out to the municipality, the municipality acts as the developer and must approve the gross credit accordingly. Simmentaler Kraftwerke AG (SKW) is contributing to the construction costs as a concessionaire. Swisscom will bear the costs associated with dismantling the pipe block. The costs for protecting the bridge are borne by the bridge owner (municipality). The project is subsidized as a repair project by the federal and cantonal governments.

The municipal assembly approved the project and the commitment loan of 408,000 francs by a large majority.

Loan statement for road renovation

On November 28, 2013, the municipal assembly approved the periodic rehabilitation (PWI) of the Wydi-Wiler road section. A loan of 298,000 francs was approved for this purpose. The work was completed and the bills were paid. Around 305,000 francs had to be spent on the PWI Wydi-Wiler project. The approval of the credit overrun of 3.29 percent is the responsibility of the local council. The community meeting took note of the settlement of the loan.