Zurich City Council increases spending for 2023 by almost 8 million
Warnings from the bourgeoisie about “left-green daydreams” do not change the result: in Friday’s session, the Zurich municipal council provided for a deficit of CHF 216 million for the 2023 budget.
Because, in addition to the Left, the GLP and Center EPP also support the worsened budget, the votes are clear with 85 to 34 yes votes. A lot of money is to be invested in housing and schools in the next year. On the second day of the meeting on Friday, several million francs were added for care, music school or school assistance.
It will also be more expensive for the city because of the nationwide introduction of day schools. Because parents have to pay less for lunch, the city has to forego income of over four million francs. This goes back to a vote in September when the people accepted the more expensive variant.
Left defends tax foot
The Council Right tried an attack on the tax rate, which has been at 119 percent for years. With 63, the left-wing majority of AL, SP and Greens only has one seat more than the minority. Exactly the same number of left-wing members sat in Friday’s meeting when the tax rate was debated. They outvote the FDP, SVP, GLP and Mitte-EVP, six of whom are missing.
Sven Sobernheim (GLP) allowed himself to be tempted to remark that the leftists would also drag themselves half sick to the vote. The representatives of the FDP or GLP said the city could afford the tax shortfalls, but would become even more attractive for companies and taxpayers. You can also afford expensive expenses.
Felix Moser (Greens), on the other hand, argues that the city must invest sustainably, for example in the net zero target or in school buildings. The Council rejected the proposed three percent reduction by a vote of 63 to 56.