Million-dollar loan for Rheinstrasse: The community wants to start the third phase of renovation at the end of 2025
In Wallbach there are important agenda items on the agenda at the community meeting. In addition to a total of 1.6 million francs for projects on Rheinstrasse, the tax rate is to be increased by 5 percentage points. The municipality is expecting a high surplus of expenses again for 2025.
Around five years ago, the municipality of Wallbach began renovating Rheinstrasse. After the first stage – Chalch to Flienenweg – and the second stage Chalch to “Fabriggli” with the construction of the flood protection wall, the third stage of road renovation from Flienenweg down to “Stelli” is now to be tackled. The local council will submit a loan application for 1.2 million francs to the community meeting on November 25th at 7 p.m. in the community hall.
The local council is applying for a loan of 1.2 million francs for the third stage of renovation of Rheinstrasse.
Image: Mira Güntert
According to the message, construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 and last until the end of 2026. The plan is to completely renew the road. Not only will the pavement be replaced, the foundation layer, the edges and the street drainage with additional street collectors will also be rebuilt.
400,000 francs for a new water pipe
Visually, the sidewalk should be separated from the road with a collar, but remain accessible. This construction method has proven itself so far, said the local council in the message. At the level of the “Salmenweg” district, the road will take up the adjacent forest area. This makes clearing and land exchange necessary.
In addition, a new water pipe is to be built over a length of around 490 meters on Rheinstrasse from Flösserweg. The replacement of three hydrants is also planned. The renovations are necessary because the water pipe network no longer meets the requirements of the Aargau building insurance for fire protection in industrial and commercial areas. The local council is applying for a loan of 400,000 francs for the implementation.
Inflation and lower tax revenues are a burden
The municipality budgeted a surplus of around 400,000 francs in 2024. She also expects a similar expenditure surplus for the 2025 budget. With the 2025 budget, the local council is therefore requesting a tax rate increase of 5 percentage points to 100 percent. It was not until 2022 that the municipal assembly decided to reduce the tax rate from 100 to 95 percent.
It wasn’t just individual expenses or too many desires that led to this, according to the local council in justifying the planned increase. “It is the tied expenses that continue to rise.” This refers to contributions to third parties that the community cannot influence. For example, deficit contributions to homes and special schools or contributions to regional associations and social spending or higher school fees.
Inflation has also increased in recent years. Price adjustments due to inflation would have led to higher operating expenses. In addition, on the revenue side there are structural changes in the development of tax capacity, according to the local council. As a result of increasing retirements, there would be a shift from income taxes to wealth taxes. According to the local council, the loss of taxable income with one-off annual taxes and property taxes cannot be compensated for.
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