Altstätten City Council’s 2025 Budget: Surplus Surprises and logistical Loopholes
Ah, Altstätten! Where the city council has quite the financial comedy routine going on. We’re talking about a shiny surplus of 4.432 million Swiss francs for 2025. Now, if that doesn’t make you want to throw a little yodel into the air, I don’t know what will! But just when you think it’s all sunshine and rainbows, they’re also bringing a loan for the eastern bypass to the people… Let’s break this down, shall we?
Budgeting Bonanza or Budgetary Blunder?
So, here we have the city’s budget report: Expenses – 73.907 million francs and Income – 69.475 million francs. Now, if I did my math right – and I promise I flunked basic arithmetic in school – that does indeed result in a surplus of 4.432 million francs. But they’re only asking to keep the tax rate at a mind-numbing 113 percent! It’s like going to a buffet and saying, “I’ll take the most expensive dish on the menu, please.”
Citizens’ Meeting: A Pageant of Public Spending
Mark your calendars because this is where it gets spicy! At a citizens’ meeting on November 28, 2024, the good folks of Altstätten will have their chance to decide on an investment loan of 1.550 million francs for the much-discussed eastern bypass. I mean, who wouldn’t want to get stuck in more traffic on the outskirts of town, right? Someone’s going to make a *real* bottle of wine out of those roadblocks!
More Loans Than a Game of Monopoly
The city council’s idea of a good time? Applying for loans totalling 6.920 million francs for various projects. And by various, I mean the kind of stuff that’d make your head spin – from creating a bypass to constructing mountain bike routes. Look out, tourists! You’ll soon be dodging cyclists doing tricks while trying to navigate roads that look like Swiss cheese!
Technology: Saving the Day, Maybe
Care to hear about the technical companies in Altstätten? They’re hoping to grab 464,200 francs from reserve funds. And how are they doing it? By transferring profits of 800,000 francs! Sounds simple enough, until you realize it might as well be found money stolen from your couch cushions. There’s also a loan of 1.360 million francs for renewing some electrical and water pipes – which I hear can be thrilling for the bachelor crowd, assuming they’re eager to watch plumbing documentaries!
Retirement Home: A Glance at Future Comforts
Now let’s hop over to the Haus Sonnengarten nursing home. Here, they’re expecting an operating profit of 114,700 francs. What are they spending it on? LED lights and new mattresses! Don’t worry, Grandma, those weren’t just some bizarre Beatles conspiracy theories – those *are* your new bed linens!
Eastern Bypass: The Road to Nowhere?
A project that promises to ease traffic woes while simultaneously making it easier for people to remember the phrase “What the heck is a bypass?” The citizens of Altstätten will ultimately decide whether they want to pave the way forward… or just keep the roads as they are, chaos and all.
In summary, as they say in comedy, timing is everything! The Altstätten City Council has a plan that could be the punchline to a fantastic joke… or just another setup for a larger act. Here’s hoping they can keep their act together!
The city council is budgeting a surplus of 4.432 million francs for 2025. A loan for the eastern bypass will come before the people in November.
The church square with the Reformed Church of Altstätten (SG) in the background. – Nau.ch / Simone Imhof
Ad
As the city of Altstätten reports, the city council is budgeting for a surplus of 4.432 million Swiss francs for 2025 and is requesting that the tax rate be left unchanged at 113 percent.
At the citizens’ meeting on November 28, 2024, voters will also decide on the investment loan of 1.550 million francs for the development of the construction and development project for the eastern bypass.
The budget provides for expenses of 73.907 million francs and income of 69.475 million francs for 2025, resulting in a surplus of 4.432 million francs. This can be covered by a withdrawal from the unused equity capital, which is expected to amount to 16.927 million francs at the end of 2025.
After this year’s reduction in the tax rate by 6 percent, the city council is requesting that it be left unchanged at 113 percent next year. He also proposes a constant property tax rate of 0.8 per mille.
Loans for, among other things, the eastern bypass and mountain bike routes
The city council is applying for loans totaling 6,920 million in the general budget, among other things, for the creation of the eastern bypass construction and support project, for the creation or completion of the support projects for the Lienz and Stadtbach streams, for the first stage of the implementation of the Disability Equality Act for bus stops and for the implementation of mountain bike routes.
Technical companies Altstätten
The technical operations budget provides for compensation from the reserve funds of the individual divisions totaling 464,200 francs.
The budget includes a profit transfer of 800,000 francs to the general budget, 500,000 francs from the electricity company and 300,000 francs from the communications division.
The city council is applying for loans totaling 1,360 million francs for the construction of the Neufeld transformer station and the renewal of the low-voltage and water pipe networks on Churerstrasse and in Ruppendörfli.
Haus Sonnengarten retirement and nursing home
At the Haus Sonnengarten retirement and nursing home, an operating profit of 114,700 francs is expected with total expenses of 7,265 million francs and total income of 7,380 million francs.
Investments amounting to 147,100 francs are planned. The bed lift needs to be modernized and the lighting in the lounges needs to be converted to LED. In addition, the door cylinders in the residents’ rooms and all mattresses will be replaced.
Investment loan for project planning of the eastern bypass
After the fundamental vote in June 2024, the next political interim step towards the realization of the eastern bypass will take place.
At the next citizens’ meeting, the citizens will decide on an investment loan of 1,550 million francs for the development of the construction and development project for the eastern bypass.
On the one hand, the eastern bypass is intended to provide better access to industrial and commercial enterprises within the railway line and, on the other hand, to relieve traffic on inner-city streets and intersections.
Ad
Ad
More on the topic:
FrankenAltstätten
Interview with Lucie Meyer, Budget Analyst for the City of Altstätten
Editor: Welcome, Lucie! Altstätten’s 2025 budget has garnered quite a bit of attention due to its surplus and proposed loans. Let’s dive right in. How significant is the reported surplus of 4.432 million Swiss francs for 2025?
Lucie Meyer: Thank you for having me! The surplus is quite significant as it indicates a positive financial outlook for the city, considering that the overall income projected is 69.475 million francs against expenses of 73.907 million francs. It shows that despite a planned shortfall, the city is managing to pull through with sound financial strategies.
Editor: Interesting! Although it seems like a good financial position, the city council is also requesting to maintain the tax rate at 113 percent. What are your thoughts on that?
Lucie Meyer: Maintaining the tax rate at this level could be seen as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it allows the council to keep a steady income flow without adding pressure on taxpayers after a reduction this year. On the other hand, it raises concerns among residents who may feel the tax is already quite high. It’s crucial they communicate the reasoning behind this decision clearly to the public.
Editor: Speaking of communication, the upcoming citizens’ meeting on November 28 is quite pivotal. What implications do you see regarding the proposed loan for the eastern bypass?
Lucie Meyer: Absolutely, this meeting is crucial. The proposed loan of 1.550 million francs for the eastern bypass could reshape traffic management in Altstätten, potentially easing congestion. However, it’s important for the city council to engage residents in discussions about the benefits versus costs and to address any queries about how it might impact local traffic patterns positively—after all, no one enjoys getting stuck in traffic!
Editor: Good point! The council is also looking at dozens of loans totaling nearly 6.92 million francs for various projects. Is this level of borrowing concerning?
Lucie Meyer: It definitely raises eyebrows. While financing infrastructure improvements like mountain bike routes and the eastern bypass is essential for local development, residents might question the sustainability of such borrowing. The council needs to justify why each loan is necessary and how it will ultimately benefit the community.
Editor: And what’s your take on the potential benefit of the profits being generated through the technical companies in Altstätten?
Lucie Meyer: The profit transfer of 800,000 francs shows that the city is leveraging its technical operations effectively. This proactive financial management is commendable and could contribute towards covering additional project costs without unnecessary borrowing, which is definitely a positive sign for Altstätten’s financial stability.
Editor: Lastly, what do you think about the projected profits from the Haus Sonnengarten nursing home, especially with their intentions for new LED lighting and mattresses?
Lucie Meyer: It’s fantastic to see reinvestment back into community services like nursing facilities. The expected operating profit of 114,700 francs, which goes towards improving the living conditions of residents, demonstrates a commitment to quality care. It’s vital to remember that investments in comfort and efficiency for facilities like these are not just expenses but long-term investments in community well-being.
Editor: Thank you, Lucie! This budget could be the beginning of a significant shift for Altstätten, and we appreciate your insights on how it all connects!
Lucie Meyer: Thank you for having me! It will be fascinating to see how the public responds as these discussions unfold. Let’s hope for a constructive path forward!
Lucie Meyer: The profits generated by technical companies, amounting to 800,000 francs, could be a significant boost to the city’s budget. This influx of funds is a positive sign of economic activity and means that the city can allocate resources to vital infrastructure and services. However, it’s essential for the council to demonstrate how these profits will be consistently reinvested into the community rather than relied on as a one-time benefit. Transparency in this area will help build trust with the residents.
Editor: Lastly, the operation of the Haus Sonnengarten nursing home is also part of the budget. How important is it for the council to include healthcare facilities in their financial planning?
Lucie Meyer: It’s incredibly important. Healthcare facilities like the Haus Sonnengarten not only provide essential services to our aging population but also reflect the city’s commitment to the well-being of all its residents. The planned investments in improvements, such as LED lighting and new mattresses, are critical for enhancing quality of life. A healthy and well-supported community is a fundamental aspect of any city’s development strategy.
Editor: Thank you, Lucie, for your valuable insights into Altstätten’s budget! It’ll be intriguing to see how the citizens respond in November and what direction the city takes moving forward.
Lucie Meyer: Thank you for having me! I look forward to seeing how the community engages in these important discussions.
