Walchwil,21.11.2018

Municipality looks to CHF 1.1million surplus

With income of CHF 23.3 million and outgoings of CHF 22.2 million, the municipality is looking to a surplus of CHF 1.1million next year.

This may look encouraging, but, as Tobias Hürlimann, the head of finance in the municipality, explained, this surplus has only come about as a result of a change in book-keeping regulations as determined by cantonal law. Had this not been implemented, a deficit of CHF 1 million would have been recorded.

At present the municipality is looking to increased outgoings in a number of areas such as health and social matters in addition to drainage.

Hürlimann explained that the municipality’s income is derived virtually totally from taxes from individuals, i.e. residents. These in turn had been subject to great uncertainty over plans by the SBB for double tracks to be laid on a section of the railway line on the eastern shore of the lake, and the effects this would have on them, in commuting to Zug, for example. In fact some had even moved away because of this, yet no newcomers had come in their place. “At least we know what is to happen now,” said Hürlimann.

Among other outgoings, CHF 1.5 million is to go finishing off the alterations to Oberdorfstrasse, CHF 580,000 for improvements to Vorderbergstrasse and a further CHF 500,000 for the first stage of the planned Panorama path.

Despite the financial challenges the municipality faces, the mayor and his council have decided not to increase the tax threshold, which will remain at 55 per cent.