Cantonal finances Solothurn government presents savings plans for 60 million francs

The Solothurn cantonal government has presented 113 measures to improve the canton's finances by CHF 60 million a year. According to the cantonal government, a restructuring of the cantonal budget is necessary in order to remain financially viable.

"The aim is to keep per capita debt below CHF 4,000," said Landammann and Finance Director Peter Hodel to the media at Solothurn Town Hall on Tuesday.

The 60 million francs from savings and additional income should sustainably relieve the canton's finances and stabilize them by 2028, he said.

After five years of surpluses, the canton of Solothurn slipped into the red in 2023. The 2024 budget envisages a deficit of 112 million francs.

Government council seeks consensus

The package of measures is divided into the categories of municipalities, fees, personnel and miscellaneous. "We as the cantonal government or the departments could decide on many of the measures ourselves," said Hodel.

In order to broadly support the measures, the government has invited the cantonal parliamentary groups, municipalities, associations and institutions to a round table discussion on Tuesday next week. The Cantonal Council will then discuss the measures within its remit in December.

13 million due to waiver of cost-of-living adjustment

The measures are spread across all five departments and the State Chancellery. At around CHF 20 million, the Finance Department accounts for the largest share.

By foregoing cost-of-living adjustments for state staff in 2025 alone, CHF 13 million could be saved. The canton's employees will only receive payslips and other information electronically, which will save printing and postage costs.

In the Department of Education, lesson cuts are planned at various school levels. The school for fashion and design at the vocational college in Olten is to be closed and the students will complete their training outside the canton.

50,000 francs for "SO 1"

In the Department of Construction and Justice, 20 percent or 1.2 million francs are to be saved annually on road maintenance. Cantonal contributions for public transport are to be capped from 2027, which would save over CHF 3 million a year. The government is hoping to raise CHF 50,000 from the auction of the "SO 1" control plate.

In the Department of Home Affairs, hospital chaplaincy is now to be financed entirely from the financial equalization pot of the parishes.

"Waldfünfliber" to be doubled

The Department of Economic Affairs plans to double the so-called "Waldfünfliber", a contribution from the municipalities for public forestry services, to CHF 10 per inhabitant.

Fees are also to be increased in many other areas or savings achieved through digitalization. For example, tax returns will only be allowed to be submitted online. The canton wants to send around 340,000 letters a year at the cheaper A Mail Plus rate instead of registered mail.

Finance Director Hodel emphasized that the cantonal government wanted to put together a "balanced, consensual reform programme" to ease the burden on the state budget. The municipalities would not only have to bear additional burdens, but would also be relieved by some measures.

SDA