Municipality records surplus of CHF 19.5 million

Bearing in mind the municipality of Baar recorded a deficit of CHF 1.4 million in 2015, it has done remarkably well since, first achieving a surplus of CHF 15.4 million in 2016 and now, it has been revealed, a surplus of CHF 19.5 million for the year 2017, more than six times what was expected.

What has contributed to this healthy balance has been income from taxes amounting to CHF 10.5 million more than expected, with three-quarters of the surplus actually due to companies of various types performing better. A delighted head of finance in the municipality, Hans Steinmann, said the economy had simply developed better than expected, something which had not been foreseeable. It is hoped the figures for 2018 will be equally pleasing, though with an expected income of CHF 132.9 million and outgoings of CHF 132.8 million, only a CHF 100,000 surplus is forecast next year.

What also helped the figures for 2017 was that locals voted against a solidarity contribution to the canton, saving CHF 3.5 million.

Among the outgoings for last year, some CHF 7 million went on the part renovation of the Steinmatt II school building and CHF 2.9 million for temporary buildings for the Wiesental school (the photograph shows pupils there jumping for joy), with further investments in these areas necessary in the years to come, as Steinmann added, rightly proud that the level of self-finance in the municipality was CHF 100%.

All this means that Baar is well equipped to face the financial challenges of the future, and able to put money aside for increasing infrastructure costs as well as higher outgoings with regard to old-age care, education and social services in the future.

It had already been announced that the fortunate citizens of Baar would benefit from a reduction in the tax threshold from 56% to 53% for 2018 and now, with this encouraging financial situation, the SVP party is calling for a further 2% reduction to 51%. While Steinmann understood such calls, he felt it was his duty to err on the side of caution and to look more to the long-term, to the next five years.