Cantonal Council OW Obwalden parliament wants to adjust cantonal financial equalization

The Obwalden Cantonal Council discussed adjustments to the cantonal financial equalization system on Thursday. Among other things, water rates and the number of second homes in municipalities are to be taken into account. In addition, the so-called "neutral zone" is to be abolished.

Up to now, financially weak municipalities have been supported with a resource index of up to 85% in financial equalization, as was revealed at the September session. From an index of over 95 percent, municipalities must contribute to the equalization.

The "neutral zone" between 85 and 95 percent is intended to prevent municipalities from constantly switching between donor and recipient municipalities. This zone is now to be abolished. This means that municipalities with a resource index above 85% will have to contribute to financial equalization in future.

Municipalities with a large number of second homes are also to be included in the financial equalization. This is because the tax revenue from second home owners is included in the resource potential of a municipality. However, the resource potential is only divided by the permanent resident population. This means that the resource potential per capita in a municipality with many second homes is too high.

Water rates are now taken into account

The water rate of a municipality gave rise to discussion. This should now be taken into account when calculating the resource potential of a municipality. According to the government's report, the differences between the municipalities are considerable.

Robert Brunner (center/GLP) requested that the water rate not be included in the Financial Equalization Act. This was "at odds with the landscape" and only "marginal sums" were involved.

A majority of the parliamentary groups rejected this. The water rates were part of a compromise that all municipalities had worked on, said Patrick Matter (center/GLP). The compromise included second homes and the abolition of the neutral zone. He could not understand why they now wanted to keep the "Fünfer" and the "Weggli".

Parliament rejected the proposal by 12 votes to 36.

Transferring fixed amounts into law

The amendment also envisages decoupling the structural equalization and the education equalization from tax revenue. A fixed amount is now to be enshrined in law.

Over the past four years, the canton has spent an average of around CHF 1.6 million on the equalization of educational burdens. This figure is to be transferred to the law. The canton has spent an average of around CHF 2.9 million on structural equalization. This should also be enshrined in the law.

The final vote will take place after a second reading.

SDA