Twice no: The rejection of the school space loan poses problems for the community and the school
Both the Gysimatte temporary school building and the investor competition for the Dorfmetzg site were rejected at the ballot box. What next?
The Gysimatte school complex needs additional classroom space.
Photo: Nadja Rohner
This is a blatant defeat, there is no other way to put it. And it shows once again that there is a huge gap between the municipal/residents’ council and the people. In recent years, the people have often overturned decisions made by the residents’ council at the ballot box. Most recently, for example, the 2024 budget (due to the tax increase from 108 to 118 percent) and the redesign of Bärenplatz.
Now, on Sunday, two municipal matters were put to the ballot box, which the local council had clearly approved. The construction loan for the Gysimatte provisional primary school was a mandatory referendum due to the amount of the loan of 6.95 million francs. A three-storey building was planned for this on the asphalted area next to the existing school buildings. There would be space for four primary school classes and two kindergarten classes.
The local council (ten of forty council members were absent) had waved the deal through at the June meeting within a few minutes without a dissenting vote, after it had also been undisputed in the finance and audit committee. Elias Fricker (centre), however, criticized that there was no other option than to say yes because time was pressing due to the increasing number of students.
The plan was for the temporary building to be occupied next spring. The tender for construction and equipment had already been launched. And now this: the people rejected the proposal. By a narrow margin, with 915 no votes (51.5 percent) and 862 yes votes. Voter turnout was 42.1 percent.
The loan of 470,000 francs for an investor competition for the Dorfmetzg site did not have to be put to the people. However, there was an optional referendum. The site – eight plots, over 6000 square meters in total – is part of the municipality’s financial assets. It is to be sold. The municipal council wanted to hold an investor competition first. With the aim of having as much say as possible before the sale.
The site of the former village butcher’s shop in Buchs belongs to the municipality.
Photo: Nadja Rohner
In contrast to the temporary school building, this deal was controversial in the local council. There were doubts as to whether an investor competition would not only bring more say but also more sales revenue. However, the yes vote was still clear with 22:16. The referendum was ultimately initiated by a private individual: Hubert Keller. SVP, GLP and Mitte supported it.
Mayor speaks of negative mood
Why this double no at the ballot box? “My personal impression is that the great negative mood spread by certain circles in the village has played its part,” said mayor Urs Affolter. In any case, constructive solutions cannot be found this way. And there was hardly any active support from the parties that had said yes in the local council during the referendum campaign.
Opponents of the investor competition had mobilized strongly.
Photo: Nadja Rohner
Another factor is the high tax rate: “For most voters, it was probably a purely financial decision. The tax rate is high, that’s the way it is, and we can’t change that at the moment. It will be extremely difficult if the community can no longer move and develop at all because of it.”
In the case of the temporary school building, there was also criticism from the teaching staff. An information event for the teaching staff was only held last week, but that was perhaps too late to allay concerns. The term “temporary” often makes it seem like a barracks. But that would not have been the case here: With a service life of around 15 years, “the building must meet the legally prescribed structural, energy and building code requirements like a conventional new building,” says the submission.
Dorfmetzg area is now being sold directly
What next? The answer to the Dorfmetzg site is relatively simple: “I assume that we will now sell it without a competition,” said mayor Urs Affolter on Sunday afternoon. “The local council considered the prior investor competition to be more beneficial for the development of the village and therefore requested it. However, it was always clear that a direct sale was also an option.”
Developing the area ourselves is not an option anyway due to the financial situation, and sticking to it is not really an option either: Selling properties in financial assets is part of the council’s strategy to be able to finance the upcoming investments. “We need the cash from this sale, quite simply,” says Urs Affolter.
The rejection of the Gysimatte provisional solution was a surprise and a real problem for him, said the mayor. It is putting the school in a predicament: “The school space is urgently needed, so a plan B is needed quickly. I cannot say what that will look like today; we have to analyse and work it out now.”
Will the road construction project also fail?
The SVP is doubly pleased with the result of the vote. Not only because it campaigned against the investor competition, but because it is currently collecting signatures for an initiative to abolish the residents’ council. The IG Gemeindeversammlung has also been created for this purpose. According to local party president Samuel Hasler, around half of the necessary signatures have been collected. They must be submitted by March 2025.
The next votes will also be exciting. The budget (not yet discussed in the local council) and the loan for the renovation and redesign of Mitteldorfstrasse and Aarauerstrasse will be put to the ballot box on November 24. The cantonal road project will cost the municipality 7.478 million francs; the rest will be paid by the canton and probably the federal government via the agglomeration program. The project was passed in the local council with 23 yes votes to 6 no votes.
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