Five instead of twenty communities: will there be a mega merger in Appenzell Ausserrhoden?

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Marlis Hörler Böhi (63) wants to leave her job. The mayor of Wald AR said upon her election: “I hope I am the last mayor.” This wish could soon come true. And not only there. On November 26, the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden will vote on a mega merger.

The canton currently has 20 municipalities. If people agree, between three and five communities could soon emerge. It is still unclear what these are.

The government council supports the proposal. Changes are necessary, communities have to deal with increasingly complex tasks that require more skills and specialists. But employees and volunteers who can be elected to the city council are rare these days.

“The challenges are increasing”

For Hörler Böhi, the merger of three to five communities brings many benefits. The municipal authorities would do their job well. “But the challenges are increasing.” She mentions digitalization and spatial planning, among other things. “The merger of three to five communities is challenging, but all communities have similar opportunities.” Also for financial questions. “It is fair if the tax rates in the municipalities are equalized, because the different requirements are balanced.”

Ernst Koller (62), mayor of Gais AR, has a completely different opinion. He is not opposed to the mergers in principle. But there are still too many question marks. “Before a wedding you have to know who the bride is.”

Gais has not had any problems fulfilling the administrative functions so far. But he also fears financial consequences if a merger is forced. “Individual municipalities would probably have to increase the tax rate to include financially weaker municipalities.”

We already work with surrounding communities if the situation requires it, for example with the fire brigade. Koller also fears a loss of cultural diversity, for example in village associations. “The connection with your own village is great.”

Hörler Böhi is not convinced by the argument. Club life is already organized outside the village boundaries. She mentions the local choir. “The conductor and some members live in the village, many of the singers come from neighboring villages,” says Hörler Böhi.

Glarus knows the situation

It would not be the first mega merger in Switzerland. In 2011, the canton of Glarus changed 25 municipalities into three. That worked well in principle, says political scientist Patrick Aeschlimann, who researches communities at the Eastern University of Applied Sciences in St. Gallen. “However, participation in community meetings still leaves much to be desired.” Aeschlimann suspects that the lack of identification with the new community is the reason.

However, the situation cannot be compared with Appenzell Ausserrhoden. “While the regional community in Glarus has already decided on specific communities, in Ausserrhoden this is only a fundamental decision.” The specific design will then follow in a separate law.

The question is whether the government council will go ahead with the mega-merger plans. The SVP and the FDP are against it. However, they support a so-called final template. The canton must promote mergers, but these must remain on a voluntary basis. This would give the cantons more power.

But no matter how people decide: both Marlis Hörler Böhi in Wald and Ernst Koller in Gais do not have to worry about their jobs. Experts estimate that such mergers take seven to ten years. Both should be retired by then.

Source:Blick