Schwyz voters choose taxes and subsidies over spending cuts

At the town hall meeting in Schwyz voters surprisingly approved higher taxes, rejecting a proposal by the city government Keystone

Voters in the town of Schwyz have surprisingly turned down their local government’s recommendation to reduce spending on education, childcare and energy subsidies in favour of a tax increase.

About 400 citizens  – the highest turnout in years according to municipal secretary Bruno Marty – took part in the ballot at the municipal assembly on December 10. They disagreed with politicians who had opposed start-up funding for day centres at schools for budget reasons.

A majority voted in favour of the proposed subsidies, particular on the day centres, a result that was greeted with applause. The centres are longer-term projects that increase the attractiveness of the location, the majority argued.

Voters even rejected an offer from the centre-right Radicals for private funding for the project as if the expense was not accepted.

The start-up funding for the day centres was worth CHF30,000, as well as CHF20,000 for education  and CHF50,000 for energy-saving measures.

Voters also unexpectedly agreed to increase taxes as proposed by the centre-left Social Democrats. Thanks to higher taxes, the budget deficit will be cut by half to CHF1.5 million.